"Bangladesh's Contested Election: Sheikh Hasina's Quest for a 5th Term and Its Regional Implications"

Bangladesh is set to hold its general election with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expected to win a fourth consecutive term amid an opposition boycott and allegations of election credibility issues. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and other parties have called for a nationwide strike, accusing the ruling Awami League of fielding "dummy" independent candidates to legitimize the election. Pre-election violence has escalated, including a train arson that killed four people. Over 119 million voters are eligible to vote, with more than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties and 436 independents contesting. Tight security is in place, and international observers are present to monitor the election, which comes after a year of economic challenges and public unrest in Bangladesh.