Daughter of 'destiny and democracy' Sheikh Hasina wins record fifth term in Bangladesh polls

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League has secured a fifth term after winning two-thirds of the seats in the general elections marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition BNP and its allies.

"We can call Awami League winner with the already available results but the final announcement will be made after the end of the counting of votes in the rest of the constituencies,” an election commission spokesman told reporters.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, directed its leaders and activists not to bring out any victory processions after the declaration of election results. 

Ms Hasina has won in Gopalganj-3 constituency in the 12th general election.

She bagged 2,49,965 votes in her constituency while her nearest rival M Nizam Uddin Lascar from Bangladesh Supreme Party secured 469 votes, said Returning officer Kazi Mahbubul Alam.  

The 76-year-old leader, who has been ruling the strategically located South Asian nation since 2009, secured a record fourth consecutive term and fifth overall term in the one-sided election, which witnessed a low turnout.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader claimed that the people have rejected the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami’s boycott of the election by casting their ballots. "I sincerely thank those who braved the fear of vandalism, arson, and terrorism to participate in the 12th national parliamentary elections,” Quader said.