Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina set to return with landslide win

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared to win a record fourth term in office, with initial trends giving her Awami League a big lead in the country's general elections. According to reports from local television stations in Bangladesh, the ruling party was all set to cross the magic figure of 151 needed to form government.

Voting for 299 of 300 seats was held on Sunday that saw at least 18 people killed in poll-related violence amid the opposition's allegations of manipulation by the ruling party.

After she cast her ballot, Hasina said she was confident. "Opposition parties resorted to violence and we have lost a lot of our party supporters. But, whatever the decision of the people, we will respect it."

Hasina, known for her pro-India stand, won by a margin of 2,29,539 votes, while her main BNP opponent could manage just 123.

The Opposition, the Jatiya Oikya Front or the National United Front lead by Dr Kamal Hossain, called the elections a 'farce'. "We demand cancellation of elections and repolls under a caretaker government. It's unfortunate that in the 47th year of independence we are seeing an election like this. It's even more unfortunate that I'm alive to see this kind of elections," said Hossain.

Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda went on record to call the elections as 'peaceful' and 'fair'. While the capital city of Dhaka mostly remained peaceful, sporadic cases of violence were reported from other parts of Bangladesh.

Most of the dead were Awami League leaders.

WHY INDIA CARES ABOUT B’DESH POLLS

• Key players were Awami League of Sheikh Hasina, considered pro-India, and Kamal Hossain, backed by Khaleda Zia of the BNP.
   
• Over 10 crore citizens voted for 299 of 300 seats
   
• India is the second-largest source of imports for Bangladesh, and Dhaka is New Delhi’s largest trading partner in South Asia