Dhaka: Bangladesh initiated the voting process on Sunday in a high-stakes election where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is anticipated to secure a fourth consecutive term and fifth overall. Notably, the polls have been boycotted by the country's main opposition party.

Approximately 120 million voters are participating to decide the fate of nearly 2,000 candidates vying for 299 seats. Stringent security measures have been implemented due to pre-election violence, including the burning of a passenger train and several institutions.

The Muslim-majority nation has a total of 300 parliamentary seats, with polling for 299 seats commencing at 8 am and concluding at 4 pm, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune. Voting in one constituency has been deferred following the death of a candidate. India closely watches the parliamentary election in Bangladesh as Prime Minister Hasina is a crucial ally for New Delhi. The results are expected to influence the political landscape of India's eastern neighbor.

Vote counting is scheduled to begin after the conclusion of the voting process, with initial results expected early on Monday. The main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with its allies, opted to boycott the polls after the ruling Awami League rejected their demand for holding the election under a caretaker government. The BNP claims that an election under the current government would not be 'fair' and 'credible,' calling for a 48-hour nationwide general strike.

Former Prime Minister and BNP leader Khaleda Zia remain under house arrest due to graft charges. Prime Minister Hasina, who cast her vote in Dhaka, criticized the BNP for boycotting the election, accusing them of undermining democracy and labeling the BNP as a "terror party."

With no significant political opponents in the running, the primary contest revolves around the ruling Awami League and independent candidates. A total of 27 political parties, including Jatiyo Party, Trinamul BNP, Islami Front, Islami Aikyo Jot, Krishan Sramik Janata League, Gana Forum, and Gana Front, are participating in the elections.

In response to pre-poll violence, security has been heightened across Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Army, in collaboration with the Border Guards Bangladesh, has been deployed in the country's 42,000 polling stations to assist in maintaining law and order. More than 100 international observers, including three representatives from India, are set to monitor the 12th general election in Bangladesh. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has warned of the possibility of calling off the election if irregularities are found in the polling process, emphasizing a commitment to resisting vote rigging, ballot snatching, and any misuse of power in favor of candidates.

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