Sheikh Hasina secures 5th term as Bangladesh PM without opposition

Digital Desk: In a significant political development, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured a fifth term in office following the 12th general elections. 

The Awami League, led by Hasina, and its allies clinched more than 50% of the total seats, with the Awami League alone claiming victory in 204 out of 264 announced seats. Hasina re-elected from the Gopalganj-3 constituency, garnered 249,965 votes amidst sporadic violence and the opposition's boycott.

The main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led a two-day nationwide strike, urging people to shun the polls. 

The Election Commission reported 119.6 million registered voters, participating in over 42,000 polling stations. A total of 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties and 436 independent candidates contested the elections.

Despite the BNP's boycott, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan suggested it was rooted in the fear of defeat. 

The elections unfolded against a backdrop of political tension, underscoring the challenges and complexities in Bangladesh's democratic landscape. 

Sheikh Hasina's victory reaffirms her political prowess and sets the stage for her continued leadership in the coming term, as she navigates the nation through various socio-economic and political challenges.