The US and UK on Monday criticized the Bangladesh general election that saw the ruling Awami League retain power as “not free” nor democratic as the polls held a day earlier were boycotted by the opposition after months of violence.
The two Western allies also condemned the incidents of violence and alleged intimidation of opposition members in the months leading up to the election and urged Bangladesh’s government to credibly investigate them.
The United States shared the view that the weekend’s elections in Bangladesh were not free and fair, the US State Department said on Monday, adding that Washington was concerned by reports of vote irregularities and condemned violence that took place. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina swept to a fourth straight term in power, with her party winning almost 75% of the seats in Sunday’s general election.
But the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the vote and turnout was low.
