Boat sails to fourth straight term

The 12th national election, marked by a low turnout and sporadic violence in an otherwise largely peaceful atmosphere, placed the Awami League candidates and independents on the course to sweep the race in the absence of any major opposition.

The ruling Awami League candidates running with the symbol of boat secured at least 223 seats while the independents bagged 61, according to data provided by the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, the Jatiya Party won in 11 constituencies and one seat each was grabbed by the Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), and Kallyan Party.    

The result for Mymensing-3 has been delayed due to reported irregularities and violence.

Soon after the polling came to a close at 4pm yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said about an estimated 40% of votes were cast but the number may increase or decrease.

The 2014 polls, which also faced boycotts by the BNP and allies, saw a turnout of 40.04% while the last elections joined by the both AL and BNP camps drew 80.02% turnout.

The lowest turnout in the country's electoral history was in the February 1996 elections, boycotted by Awami League, with only 26.74%

Both 10th and 11th parliamentary polls were marred by widespread violence, claiming lives of at least 18 people on each occasion. This time the toll stood at two.

In Munshiganj, a supporter of the Awami League nominee was stabbed to death allegedly by followers of an independent candidate.

In Cumilla-4, Noab Ali, 60, a supporter of AL candidate Razee Mohammad Fakhrul was found dead near a polling centre in Debidwar upazila. 

He was allegedly attacked by a supporter of independent candidate Abul Kalam Azad over a dispute related to the polls, reports UNB. But the police said there were no visible injury marks, and the election-related nature of the killing is unconfirmed.

For the first time in the country's history, the candidacy of an AL nominee in Chattogram was cancelled over "gross violations of the electoral code of conduct".

Yesterday, the Election Commission postponed voting in 23 polling stations of 11 constituencies over irregularities and violence.

Besides, 28 candidates boycotted the national polls bringing allegations like fake voting, polling station capture, and restricting agents from entering the centres.

On the polls atmosphere, the CEC, however, expressed satisfaction and said, "We have not received any complaints except two or four about the behaviour of the administration or the police. Those against whom I have received complaints have been transferred."

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, the world's longest serving female prime minister, has secured a landslide triumph in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad polls from her home constituency Gopalganj-3.

According to the primary results announced by presiding officers, the premier has bagged 2,49,965 votes, 86% of the total votes in the constituency, leaving all rival candidates in the dust.

Turnout question

Earlier in the day, Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said at least 27% of votes have been cast across the country till 3pm. Before this, he said 18.50% votes were cast in 8 divisions as of 12:15pm.

The polling began at 8am amid tight security in 299 out of the country's 300 constituencies. The counting of votes started immediately after the voting ended.

UNB correspondents from Dhaka and different districts including Dinajpur, Chattogram, Bhola, Chapainawabganj and Khulna reported low voter turnout in the morning.

Lower-than-expected voter turnout was also observed in Cumilla, Bagerhat, Barishal and Habiganj in the first half of the day.

Voter turnout was noticeably low in most polling stations in the capital while the crowd of party leaders can be seen in front of the centres almost all day long.

A TBS correspondent reported this, visiting at least 30 centres of Dhaka-12, Dhaka-13, Dhaka-14, Dhaka-15 and Dhaka-16 constituencies from 7:15am to 3pm on Sunday.

'Independent' factor

The Awami League's official nominees had to engage in uphill battles against its party's "independent" candidates across the majority of constituencies.

This marks the first instance in the country where a political party permitted its members to run against its officially nominated candidates.

In some constituencies, a newcomer with the party's boat symbol emerged victorious against its independents, whereas, in some other seats, multiple-time lawmakers succumbed to defeat at the hands of independents.

In Magura-1, Shakib Al Hasan, running as the Awami League candidate, unofficially secured victory with 78,865 votes. This was the first election contested by the cricket superstar.  

In Manikganj-2, the Awami League's two-time MP singer Momtaz Begum faced a defeat against the party's independent candidate Shafiul Arefin Tutul.

Similarly, in Habiganj-4, Sayedul Haque Sumon, an independent candidate affiliated with the party, emerged as the elected MP after defeating the current party MP, State Minister for Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali, by a significant margin.

Previously, any party member contesting against the official nominee in national and local government elections would be labelled a "rebel", facing subsequent disciplinary action.

However, for this national election, the Awami League departed from this tradition, permitting party members to run as independent candidates in a bid to boost voter turnout.

Senior politicians and political analysts observe that despite the overall low voter participation in this year's elections, the Awami League has effectively implemented its strategy with independent candidates. They believe that this approach has rendered the election more participatory and competitive.

As of 1:15am on Monday, with results still pouring in, independent candidates have secured victories in 58 constituencies. Notable among them are Kamarul Arefin, an independent candidate, who defeated Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Hasanul Haque Inu in Kushtia-2.

Additionally, AK Azad, managing director of Ha-Meem Group and former president of the FBCCI, emerged victorious in Faridpur-3, while former textile and jute minister Abdul Latif secured a win in Tangail-4 constituency.

23 scored zero

So far, candidates from 23 parties have been unsuccessful in securing any seats in the election, despite the Awami League offering concessions in various constituencies.

The Trinamool BNP, Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM), and Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), all of which declared themselves as opposition parties in this election, failed to secure any seats.

Out of the 28 parties that participated in this election only the Awami League, Jatiya Party won 11 seats while Bangladesh Workers' Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), and Bangladesh Kalyan Party secured one each, TBS learnt from various sources.    

The BNP and other like-minded parties called for a hartal on the election day, urging people to stay away from voting as they say free and fair polls are not possible under the current government.

Yesterday, claiming that their party's call for boycotting the "one-sided" national election was successful, BNP senior leader Abdul Moyeen Khan congratulated the voters for "not going to the polling stations".

Talking to reporters at his Gulshan residence, he also said the people of the country rejected the Awami League government through this voterless election.

"On behalf of not only BNP but also all the 62 political parties who boycotted this farcical election, I salute the people of Bangladesh for the sole reason that they have never compromised on the question of democracy. They also didn't do this this time as well," the BNP leader said.

GM Quader, chairman of Jatiyo Party – another major political player – even declared that they were brought to the election as sacrificial lambs.

The ruling party, however, termed the election "a victory of democracy and people of the country" and the party's general secretary said they were most grateful to the people of Bangladesh.