Opposition Launches 48-Hour General Strike Ahead of Contested Bangladesh Election

As Bangladesh prepares for its upcoming general election scheduled for Sunday, tensions surge amidst a 48-hour general strike initiated by the main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and allied groups. Led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the opposition has announced a boycott of the election, citing concerns over fairness under the current administration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Election Commission confirmed that polling will commence Sunday across 42,000 ballot stations, with over 119 million registered voters expected to participate. However, the BNP’s call for strikes and boycotts to disrupt the electoral process remains steadfast, reflecting the deep-rooted political polarization in the country.

Campaigning leading up to the election has been marred by violence, including a recent train arson in Dhaka that claimed four lives, escalating apprehensions ahead of the vote. While authorities have not attributed responsibility, suspicions linger regarding groups seeking to destabilize the election process.

Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen condemned the attack, alleging it was aimed at obstructing the democratic process. Reports of arson targeting multiple polling stations outside Dhaka have heightened concerns, prompting the Election Commission to request heightened security measures around the stations.

The escalating political tension between Hasina and Zia has intensified, with Zia currently under house arrest, a move her party labels as politically motivated.

Amidst these challenging circumstances, Sunday has been declared a public holiday to facilitate voter turnout, emphasizing the significance of this critical election in Bangladesh’s parliamentary democracy. However, the escalating confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition underscores the tumultuous landscape within which this election is taking place.