Murky political scene in Bangladesh

Though the government has assured a fair election, the memory of the 2018 election undercuts the hope.

The deadline for political parties interested in participating in the 12th parliamentary election in Bangladesh to inform the Election Commission (EC) was November 18. Only nine parties expressed their interest before the EC. The main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), chose not to inform the EC of its participation, and it has now resorted to protest/blockade. On November 19, 139 BNP leaders and activists were convicted for their involvement in violent incidents between 2013 and 2018, thereby eliminating them from the electoral race.