16 dead in Bangladeshi vote opposition calls ‘farcical’

Polling stations closed on Sunday with early results putting current PM Sheikh Hasina on course for a landslide victory.

Ariana News Agency-

More than a dozen people were killed in election-related violence in Bangladesh on Sunday, as voters went to the polls to decide whether to give Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a third consecutive term amid opposition claims that her leadership has become increasingly authoritarian.

The leader of Bangladesh’s opposition alliance called Sunday’s vote “farcical,” saying any outcome would be rejected and demanding that a new election be held under the authority of a “nonpartisan government.”

The election campaign was marred by allegations of arrests and jailing of thousands of Hasina’s opponents.

Opposition leader Kamal Hossain said a few hours after voting ended that about 100 candidates from the alliance had withdrawn from their races during the day. He said the alliance would hold a meeting Monday to decide its next course.