New Delhi: In a historic electoral victory, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the leader of the Awami League, secured her fifth term by winning the Gopalganj-3 seat, as confirmed by the countrys Election Commission. The general elections witnessed a 40% voter turnout, despite the boycott by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh National Party.Hasinas re-elected amidst election boycottAwami League chief Sheikh Hasina emerged victorious in the polls, reclaiming her Gopalganj-3 constituency, according to the Election Commissions announcement. With her party leading in numerous constituencies, the Awami League is poised to return to power, marking a significant political development.Landslide victory amid election turbulenceThe bdnews24 reported Hasinas landslide victory in an election marred by incidents of violence, including the notable absence of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which opted to boycott the electoral process.The 76-year-old Hasina secured an overwhelming 2,49,965 votes, while her nearest rival received a mere 469 votes. M Nizam Uddin Lashkar of the Bangladesh Supreme Party faced a resounding defeat at the hands of the Prime Minister. Kazi Mahbubul Alam, the Returning Officer for the Gopalganj constituency, declared the results, marking Hasinas eighth win in this constituency since 1986.Fourth consecutive win for HasinaThis victory marks Sheikh Hasinas fourth consecutive win since 2009 and her fifth overall, positioning her for another term at the helm of the nation. She is set to hold the chair of Prime Ministerof Bangladesh for a record fifth time.Awami League dominates in Parliamentary seatsLatest reports indicate that Awami League candidates are leading in the majority of seats. According to some sources, the party has secured 8 out of 9 seats in the 300-member parliament, while the Jatiya Party secured 1 seat. The Dhaka Tribune, however, provides slightly different figures, stating that the Awami League has already won 79 constituencies, with the Jatiya Party securing five seats. Independent candidates clinched victory in 23 seats.Obaidul Quader, a prominent Awami League leader, asserted that these results reflect the publics rejection of the election boycott proposed by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.Voter turnout, election dynamicsInitial reports suggest a 40 per cent voter turnout, nearly half of the 80 per cent recorded in the 2018 general elections. However, the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal emphasised that this figure is not final and may undergo changes.Despite some isolated incidents of violence, the voting process remained largely peaceful, as reported by poll officials. Most voters adhered to rules and patiently queued up during the voting period, concluding at 4 pm.
