Bangladesh’s Election Outcome Amid Controversy: Oath-Taking Amidst Opposition Boycott

The newly-elected members of Bangladesh’s Parliament are set to take the oath of office on Wednesday, following Sunday’s polls where the ruling Awami League (AL) secured 223 out of 298 seats, granting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a record fourth consecutive term. The ceremony, to be administered by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, takes place amidst controversy, with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotting the elections and urging citizens not to vote.

The AL’s victory comes amid accusations of mass violence and arrests of opposition leaders and supporters, with nearly 10,000 activists detained after a violent opposition rally in October 2023, as reported by Human Rights Watch. The BNP’s demands for an independent caretaker government were rejected, leading to increased tensions and allegations of political bias in the electoral process.

The Awami League denies these accusations, setting the stage for a challenging political landscape in Bangladesh.