Bangladesh, the nationalist social gathering wins the primary free elections in 15 years | EUROtoday

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DHAKA – When it was already evening in Bangladesh, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman introduced that his social gathering will mount a constructive opposition. The phrases of the Islamist chief (“we will have a positive policy”) had been the primary official recognition that the development that emerged after a number of hours of scrutiny doesn’t appear destined to reverse and that the primary free elections in additional than 15 years had been gained by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The proven fact that the Jamaat-e-Islami management is keen to simply accept electoral defeat is taken into account an indispensable issue to ensure stability in a rustic the place the streets have traditionally been a component of strain that’s troublesome to disregard. A not slender victory, just like the one which appears to be rising, was thought of by analysts one other of the necessities to keep away from the danger of accidents. A hazard that appeared actual throughout the afternoon, after Jamaat activists started to report fraud.

Shortly after 1am native time, the BNP of Tariq Rahmanthe son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia from whom he inherited the management of the social gathering, was main in 134 constituencies, not removed from the 151 deputies who assure the bulk in Parliament and a transparent benefit over Jamaat’s 58. Bangladesh’s unicameral system elects 350 legislators: 300 with a single-member system and 50 girls with a proportional mechanism that takes under consideration the seats gained by every social gathering.

Late at evening there was nonetheless no definitive determine on the turnout, which by 2pm native time had exceeded 47% after a slightly sluggish begin. According to native media, round 60% of these entitled to vote had voted on the finish of the daya pointy improve in comparison with the paltry 42% of the farce elections of 2024. The vote occurred with none main incidents, additionally because of an unprecedented deployment of safety forces, with dozens of troopers and paramilitaries lined up in entrance of the doorway to every polling station.

“I hope that the priorities of the next government are the fight against corruption, justice, stability and greater job opportunities for young people,” he explains Habibur Rahman Jeshana 25-year-old younger man who, after collaborating within the demonstrations in July 2024 that introduced down Sheikh Hasina’s regime, was voting for the primary time yesterday. «I do not imagine that the precise path is that of the Islamization of society. Jamaat-e-Islami wish to encourage girls to not work. I do not agree. Their security have to be assured in one other manner.”