Bangladesh gears up for General Election tomorrow: What you need to know

Bangladesh is poised for a general election as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina eyes her fourth consecutive term, the fifth overall for her Awami League-led alliance. With almost 170 million people ready to cast their votes, the election promises to be a defining event in the country's political landscape.

Key Points:

1.    Opposition Standoff: The main opposition force, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is boycotting the election, demanding Sheikh Hasina's resignation and advocating for a caretaker government to oversee the electoral process.
2.    Pre-Election Violence: Tensions escalated on the eve of the election as violence erupted, marked by the arson of a passenger train and the burning of several polling booths. At least four people lost their lives in the turmoil, raising concerns about the stability of the electoral process.
3.    Voter Demographics: Women constitute nearly half of the 120 million eligible voters, with approximately 15 million first-time voters participating in this crucial election, according to reports from Reuters.
4.    Candidate Landscape: A staggering 2,000 candidates are competing for the 300 directly elected parliament seats, including a record-high 5.1% of women candidates. The race also features 436 independent candidates, sparking allegations of "dummy" candidates by the opposition.
5.    Economic Challenges: Despite economic successes during Sheikh Hasina's third term, Bangladesh faces recent economic challenges, including protests over the rising cost of living and struggles to finance costly energy imports with depleting dollar reserves.
6.    International Recognition: Sheikh Hasina earned international praise during her third term for steering the $416-billion economy and providing shelter to nearly a million Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar. However, the nation grapples with recent economic uncertainties.
7.    IMF Bailout: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently approved the first review of Bangladesh's $4.7 billion bailout, unlocking immediate access to $468.3 million and allocating $221.5 million for climate change initiatives.
8.    Security Measures: A massive security apparatus, consisting of nearly 800,000 police, paramilitary, and police auxiliaries, along with deployment from the army, navy, and air force, has been mobilized. Additionally, 127 foreign observers will closely monitor the election process.

As Bangladesh stands at the crossroads of its political future, the outcome of this election will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of the nation, reflecting its challenges, aspirations, and global standing.