DHAKA: General elections will be held in Bangladesh on January 7, with opposition parties threatening to boycott fearing vote fraud, the country’s chief election commissioner said on Wednesday.
In his statement on live television broadcast, election commissioner Habibul Awal said, “The 12th parliamentary elections will be held on January 7 with 300 seats,” and called on the parties to hold talks to resolve the political crisis.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled the South Asian country for the last 15 years and has been accused of ruling the country with an iron fist.
It seems almost certain that he will return to power for a fourth term if the opposition boycott continues.
Hasina has achieved impressive economic growth, but Western countries have raised alarm over democratic backsliding and she has been accused of vote rigging by the opposition in the last two polls.
news source (www.brecorder.com)
