Bangladesh election: PM Sheikh Hasina wins landslide in disputed vote

Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured her third consecutive term with a landslide victory, Bangladesh's Election Commission said on Monday.

Her ruling party and its allies have won 288 of the 300 parliamentary seats contested, surpassing its previous election wins.

The opposition has condemned the vote as "farcical," marred by violence, intimidation and vote rigging claims. They won just seven seats and have demanded a new vote.


Bangladesh's parliament has 350 seats in total, 50 of which are reserved for women and allotted proportional to the overall vote.

"We urge the election commission to void this farcical result immediately," opposition leader Kamal Hossain said.

"We are demanding that a fresh election is held under a neutral government as early as possible."

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The Bangladesh Election Commission told Reuters news agency that it had heard vote-rigging allegations from "across the country" and would investigate.

At least 17 people have been killed in clashes between ruling party supporters and the opposition.