International desk : Voc

Bangladesh’s political landscape has entered a new phase of tension following the conclusion of voting in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Even before the final results are announced, disputes over voter turnout and electoral transparency have begun to dominate public debate.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sharply criticised the election, describing it as a “stage-managed process” rather than a genuine democratic exercise. In a statement posted on social media, she argued that the low level of public participation reflects widespread rejection of the election by ordinary citizens. According to her, the absence of enthusiasm among voters exposes serious flaws in the credibility of the process.

The Election Commission reported that polling started at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m. Preliminary data indicated that voter turnout had reached around 47 percent by 2:00 p.m., although the final turnout figure has not yet been officially released. Vote counting began immediately after polling closed, and formal results are expected to be declared on Friday.

However, these figures have been questioned by Awami League, which claimed that voter presence remained extremely low in many centres until late morning. Party leaders alleged that in some areas turnout figures rose unusually within a short span of time, raising suspicions about the accuracy of official data.

In her statement, Sheikh Hasina further alleged that citizens’ voting rights were ignored and that the election had been carefully orchestrated. She claimed reports had emerged from several centres where ballots were allegedly stamped in the absence of voters.

“This cannot be called a democratic election when the people themselves were not allowed to participate freely,” she said.

The Awami League was unable to contest the election formally after its political activities were suspended. Referring to this, Sheikh Hasina said that holding an election without the participation of a major political force undermines its democratic legitimacy. She demanded a fresh, free and fair election under a caretaker government and called for the withdrawal of what she described as politically motivated cases against party leaders, activists and members of the public.

Meanwhile, the alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party expressed confidence about securing victory. Despite this optimism, the election day was not entirely free of unrest.

Reports of isolated violence emerged from different regions. In Khulna, one BNP leader reportedly died following clashes linked to the election. In Gopalganj, several people were injured in a cocktail bomb explosion. Authorities stated that most polling centres remained peaceful and that investigations into these incidents are underway.

Political analysts believe the controversy over turnout and transparency is likely to intensify in the coming days. Once the results are officially declared, reactions from opposition parties and the possibility of protest movements could further shape the political situation.

For now, the country waits to see whether the outcome of the election will ease tensions or deepen the existing political divide.

International Desk : Voice of Calcutta