Aljazeera News :
Bangladesh will hold its 11th parliamentary elections on December 30, a vote that many say will be a litmus test for democracy in the South Asian nation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose tenure has seen widespread allegations of rights abuses and creeping authoritarianism, is seeking a third consecutive term in office.
Hasina’s chief rival is two-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who heads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), but she is barred from contesting the elections because of a corruption conviction.
The BNP is banking on the newly formed opposition alliance, Jatiya Oikyafront (National Unity Front), which is being led by a secular icon and former foreign minister Dr. Kamal Hossain.
The 2014 elections were boycotted by the BNP as unfair and shunned by international observers as “an electoral farce”. More than half the seats had remained uncontested, giving the ruling Awami League (AL) a walkover.
As they head to the elections without Zia, BNP leaders have accused the government of using state power to intimidate its leaders by filing cases against them.
Violence is common around elections in Bangladesh. At least six people have been killed in poll-related violence so far.
New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the international community to press the Bangladeshi government to create conditions for a free and fair election.
Infographic: Bangladesh at a glance
Infographic: How the Bangladesh elections work
Infographic: Major parties and alliances
Bangladesh since 1971
1971:
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is arrested following an election win for the Awami League, which West Pakistan refuses to recognise, leading to riots.
On March 26, AL declares East Pakistan’s independence from West Pakistan and names the new country Bangladesh
1972:
Mujib returns from detention in Pakistan and becomes PM
1975; Mujib assassinated in a military coup, martial law imposed
1979; Martial law lifted, General Ziaur Rahman’s BNP wins
1981; Zia assassinated in an aborted military coup 1982; General Ershad takes power in a military coup, the Constitution is suspended 1986; Ershad elected for 5-year-term in general elections 1987; State of Emergency declared after opposition protests 1990;
Ershad steps down, is jailed for corruption later 1991; Khaleda Zia becomes PM, the Constitution is changed to make President’s post ceremonial 1996; Awami League returns to power with Hasina as PM 2001; Hasina becomes first PM to complete 5-year term, loses polls to BNP’s Zia 2004; Parliament amends the Constitution to reserve 45 seats for women, Hasina survives grenade attack at an opposition rally that kills 22 2007;
January election is suspended by President following violence, Hasina is charged with murder while Zia is put under house arrest 2008; Awami League captures more than 250 of 300 seats in parliament in the December elections 2009; Hasina takes over as PM in January 2012; Key leaders of top Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, charged with war crimes for collaboration with Pakistan in 1971 2013; Dhaka High Court bans Jamaat-e-Islami from participating in elections 2014; BNP boycotts parliamentary election, Hasina returns for a third term in office 2017; A massive Rohingya exodus from Myanmar begins in August, UN says a million given shelter in Bangladesh 2018; Zia sentenced to ten years in jail, banned from contesting the election.
