Bangladesh general elections takes place on the 30th December, it’s the 11th national parliamentary elections. Elected governments have a five year term, and this is the first time electronic voting machine (EVMs) will be used.
Among the 10.46 crore registered voters, women make half the strength 5.16 crore. Over 40,200 polling stations will be set up.
The Bangladesh parliament is called Jatiya Sangsad. The 350 strength house has 300 elected members, the remaining 50 seats are divided based on individual party’s vote share. The majority mark is 151 to form government.
There are two major parties in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) leads the Grand Alliance, and she is fighting for a third straight term. The major opposition party in Bangladesh is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headed by Khaleda Zia. She is currently in prison facing five year jail term on two corruption cases. Her son is the acting chief operating from London.
The opinion polls conducted predict a sweeping win for Sheikh Hasina, she is expected to get 250 seats in the 300 seater assembly.
The current Sheikh Hasina government is more pro-India than Khaleda Zia, there has been great improvement in trade and bilateral relations under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.