Bangladeshi premier takes big lead as opposition rejects poll alleging vote rigging

Bangladeshi premier takes big lead as opposition rejects poll alleging vote rigging

DHAKA, DEC 30 -  Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party took a big lead over the opposition in a national election on Sunday, early results and trends showed, in a poll that was marred by allegations of vote rigging and violence that killed 17 people.

A third straight term for Hasina’s Awami League was widely expected, but the main opposition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rejected the election and called for a fresh vote in the country of 165 million people.

The Election Commission said it was investigating complaints of rigging, even as at least three voters in southeast Bangladesh, including a journalist, said they were barred from entering polling booths or were told their ballot papers had already been filled in.

“Allegations are coming from across the country and those are under investigation,” commission spokesman S.M. Asaduzzaman said. 

“If we get any confirmation from our own channels then measures will be taken as per rules.”

But as results started coming in showing the Awami League winning 48 seats and one for the BNP, Asaduzzaman declined to comment if its investigation would have any bearing on the final outcome.

Hasina’s party was leading in 114 seats while the BNP was ahead in two. There are 300 parliamentary constituencies in Bangladesh.

 “The election is a cruel mockery with the nation,” BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said. 

“This type of election is harmful to the nation. The country has suffered so much through this election.”

a group of about 50 women chanting “Sheikh Hasina! Sheikh Hasina!” on a deserted street in Dhaka as election results started trickling in.

reporters across the country saw sparse turnout at polling booths during the election. In nine polling centers visited in Dhaka, posters bearing the Awami League’s “boat” symbol far outnumbered those of the opposition.

Mahbub Talukdar, one of the five election commissioners who stirred a controversy last week by saying there was no level-playing field for the parties, told he did not see any opposition polling agents near the Dhaka booth where he voted, suggesting they had been kept away.

Clashes in the Muslim-majority country broke out between workers of the Awami League and its opponents, led by the BNP of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. 

At least one of the victims was attacked by a machete-carrying group, police said, adding a man from a paramilitary auxiliary force also died.

Police spokesman Sohel Rana said seven victims were workers of the ruling party and five from the BNP. He said around 20 people were wounded.

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