Lowest Number of Female Candidates in a Decade and a Half
In Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, women remain severely underrepresented, with only 65 female candidates around 3.5 percent contesting despite women making up nearly half of the electorate, highlighting persistent gender bias within political party nominations and the absence of enforceable legal safeguards.
Sheikh Hasina Seen Healthy and Confident
A delegation of the UK Awami League recently met with former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi. The five-member delegation, which traveled from London, held a nearly five-hour-long meeting with Sheikh Hasina on January 21. They returned to the United Kingdom on January 26 after completing their visit.
Sheikh Hasina Comments on Bangladesh’s Upcoming Election While in Exile
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently residing abroad, has expressed her concerns over Bangladesh’s forthcoming national election, highlighting the exclusion of her political party from the electoral process.
Fears and anxieties may discourage minority communities from voting
Minority communities want to exercise their citizenship rights by voting. However, their fears and concerns regarding life, livelihood, property, and dignity are not subsiding in any way. These fears and concerns may discourage minority communities from voting, said the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
Sheikh Hasina: Democracy Will Weaken If Free Participation Is Not Ensured in the National Election
From exile, Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a widely recognized advocate of democratic governance, has expressed deep and serious concerns regarding the upcoming national election following the ban imposed on her political party, the Awami League.
Using religion to seek votes in elections is concerning: ASK
The use of religion in campaigning for the upcoming national parliamentary election, as well as the tendency to seek votes by exerting direct or indirect pressure on citizens who practice other religions, is also a matter of serious concern. In addition, incidents of clashes, violence, provocative statements, and allegations of irregularities among political parties and candidates in various parts of the country have prompted the Law and Arbitration Center (ASK) to express deep concern and anxiety.
While candidates reach voters, diplomats engage power
While candidates campaign among the people, foreign ambassadors remain busy engaging with power centers highlighting the growing gap between voters and external influence in the election process.
Human Rights Under Scrutiny as Bangladesh Heads to National Election
Ahead of the upcoming national election in Bangladesh, the international human rights organization Amnesty International has called for making the protection of human rights the highest priority. In a letter addressed to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that major challenges still remain in ensuring the human rights of all people in Bangladesh.
No ‘Level Playing Field’ in Election Campaigns: Nahid Islam
National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has raised allegations that there is no “level playing field” in election campaigning, meaning all candidates do not have equal opportunities.
“They Tried to Use Us, We Have Come Out for the Welfare of Islam”: Rezaul Karim
Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, said, “They tried to use us in the name of Islam; we have come out collectively for the welfare of Islam.”