Voting begins amidst tight security in Bangladesh, more than 1500 candidates in the fray

Voting has taken place today in Bangladesh for the general elections. Due to the absence of the main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win for the fourth consecutive time.

Opposition party BNP has boycotted the elections. Voting started at 8 am and will end at 5 pm. The election results are expected to be declared on the morning of January 8.

More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in Bangladesh elections and apart from them there are also 436 independent candidates. However, after the boycott of the main opposition party BNP from the elections, the path seems very easy for Sheikh Hasina's party.

More than 100 foreign observers, including three observers from India, are monitoring the 12th general elections. At the same time, the United Nations team is also keeping an eye on the elections.

Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh Kazi Habibul Awal said that we want our general elections to be seen not only at the national level but also at the international level. Bangladesh is a member of the United Nations and has also signed various international documents.

Prime Minister Hasina's ruling Awami League is expected to win the elections for the fourth consecutive time, as the party of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia (78) has boycotted the elections. Khaleda is under house arrest after being convicted on corruption charges. Hasina, 76, in a nationally televised address this week, had urged pro-democracy and law-abiding parties not to give air to such ideas that would "hinder" the country's constitutional process.

BNP has called for a 48-hour nationwide strike from Saturday. BNP boycotted the elections and called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike from 6 am on January 6 to 6 am on January 8. The party claims that no election will be fair and credible under the current government.

Today the number of vehicles on the roads of Bangladesh is less than other days, but despite the fear of arson, public vehicles are running on the roads. Authorities deployed military troops across the country two days in advance to "assist civil administration" in maintaining peace and order during the voting.

Despite tight security arrangements, unidentified people set fire to vacant polling stations in four of the 64 administrative districts, while BNP workers clashed with the police in another district.

Meanwhile, in view of the elections, Hasina government has arrested thousands of opposition leaders and supporters. Human rights groups condemned the move, calling it an attempt to paralyze the opposition.

Police on Saturday arrested eight people, including a senior leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for conspiring and arranging funds for a train fire that took place in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Friday. Four people lost their lives in this incident that happened before the elections.