Bangladesh Elections 2024: Why the Bangladeshi opposition is boycotting this election

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Bangladesh Elections 2024: Bangladesh began voting for its general elections early today January 6, amid pre-poll violence and opposition calls for a boycott of the incumbent government and its candidate, current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Notably, however, Hasina looks set to win a fifth term, and fourth consecutive clean sweep in the country, amid a lack of a significant rival option. This election has unfolded against the backdrop of Hasina's government unrelentingly tamping down on protests by opposition party representatives via widespread arrests.

Her administration is battling accusations of severe human rights violations and a harsh crackdown on the opposition, AFP reported. Opposition leader Abdul Moyeen Khan, 77, told Reuters he hid in the homes of acquaintances till the nominations closed to escape arrest. "We're not even in the election, but they are still not sparing us," he said, adding that he "returned home in December after nominations closed and removed any risk that he could pose an electoral threat", as per the report.

Khan is a member of the Standing Committee of the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Track | Bangladesh Elections 2024 Live Updates here According to Khan, the BNP is boycotting this election because incumbent Hasina declined to transfer authority to a caretaker government for conducting the poll, as per the Reuters report. He added that around 10 million party workers are on the move following the apprehension of nearly 25,000 individuals after the violent anti-government protests on October 28.