News World Awami League sweeps Bangladesh polls; 21 killed in violence

Awami League sweeps Bangladesh polls; 21 killed in violence

Dhaka: The ruling Awami League, on Sunday, swept the general election in Bangladesh which were marred by deadly clashes, low turnout and a boycott by opposition parties, even as 21 people were killed in poll-related

Opposition cadres set over 200 polling stations on fire. Hasina's Awami League was set for a sweeping victory in the polls as the outcome was never in doubt because of the boycott. The party expressed satisfaction at the turnout.

"The party which will win the election will form the government and run the country," top Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed said.

The BNP said the people have said no to the "one-sided" polls. "People have rejected the government by saying no to its expectation of clutching to power through the one-sided election," BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said soon after polling ended.

The opposition, on Saturday, had enforced a 48-hour nationwide strike aimed at derailing the polls. It announced another 48-hour strike beginning on Monday. The opposition alliance will enforce a fresh shutdown alongside the ongoing indefinite blockade of rail, roads and waterways.

The election commission has not yet announced the official turnout in 10th parliamentary election.

Chief election commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said boycott by some political parties and thick fog were reasons for the low voter turnout. He, however, claimed that the polls were "fair".

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