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Hasina Is Set To Stay In Power In Bangladesh After Opposition Boycotts Election, Saying It’s Unfair

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DHAKA, Bangladesh — The main opposition party boycotted the parliamentary election in Bangladesh, which allowed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League to win a fourth consecutive term. The counting of votes began on Sunday.

At least 18 arson attacks occurred in the days leading up to the election, but the day itself was generally peaceful. After the votes were counted, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said turnout was around 40%.

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies have boycotted the election, which has increased tensions due to security concerns, including the killing of four people in an arson attack on a passenger train on Friday. They accuse Hasina of making Bangladesh a one-party state and of silencing criticism and civil society.

Authorities blamed the BNP for much of the violence, accusing it of attempting to sabotage the election. Detectives detained seven individuals from the BNP and its youth branch on Saturday for their alleged involvement in the train attack. The party denied having any involvement in the incident.

hasina

Hasina Is Set To Stay In Power In Bangladesh After Opposition Boycotts Election, Saying It’s Unfair

Officials stated on Sunday that a supporter of a ruling Awami League candidate was stabbed to death in the Munshiganj area of Dhaka. The police did not respond promptly.

A victory for Hasina, the country’s longest-serving and most influential leader would come with a highly turbulent political landscape. Like previous ones, the election has been defined by the intense competition between Hasina’s Awami League and the BNP, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is sick and under house arrest on corruption allegations that her supporters allege are politically motivated.

For many years, the two women alternately controlled the country, creating a hatred that has since split Bangladesh’s politics and sparked violence around elections. This year’s election prompted concerns about its integrity because the incumbent had no strong opponents.

Badshah Mia, a rickshaw puller in Dhaka, said he would not vote because of the restricted options and that the mood did not emanate that of “a fair election.”

A businessman, Sakibul Hasan Chowdhury, felt the same way. “There is no opposition nor a candidate of my choice.” So, how would voting assist me?”

Habibur Rahman, a small business owner, said he was voting for the ruling party’s candidate in his constituency but said there didn’t appear to be a large turnout.

Critics and rights groups say the vote follows a disturbing pattern, in which the previous two elections under Hasina were marred by claims of vote manipulation — which officials denied — and another boycott by opposition parties.

The government has rejected the BNP’s months-long demand for a neutral caretaker administration to oversee Sunday’s poll.

hasina

Hasina Is Set To Stay In Power In Bangladesh After Opposition Boycotts Election, Saying It’s Unfair

The government has defended the poll, claiming that 27 political parties and 404 independent candidates are participating. With dozens of Awami League candidates running as independents and primarily smaller opposition parties in the race, pundits say Hasina’s victory is almost certain.

According to Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, the candidates could only mount a minor challenge to Hasina’s party. “The outcome is all but guaranteed, and that is that the Awami League will return (to power) again,” he stated. He said, “Bangladesh’s democracy will be in an extremely precarious state once the election is done.”

The vote has also been called into question due to allegations of a widespread crackdown on the BNP. According to the party, almost 20,000 of its members were imprisoned on fabricated accusations before the election. The government contested the findings and denied that arrests were made for political reasons, claiming that the number of people arrested ranged between 2,000 and 3,000. In an interview with the BBC, the country’s law minister stated that 10,000 people were likely arrested.

Former minister and BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan said the wave of arrests caused him and dozens of other party members to go into hiding for weeks until candidacy nominations were halted. “It was the only way we could ensure our safety and carry on raising our voice (against the government),” he said.

“We are not boycotting an election — what we are boycotting is a fake and one-sided election that this government is carrying out,” he said.

Hasina is recognized for altering the economy of a young nation born of conflict and making its textile industry one of the most competitive in the world. Her supporters claim that she has prevented military coups and eliminated the menace of Islamic militancy. Internationally, she has helped enhance Bangladesh’s status as a country capable of doing business and maintaining diplomatic ties with countries frequently at odds, such as India and China.

hasina

Hasina Is Set To Stay In Power In Bangladesh After Opposition Boycotts Election, Saying It’s Unfair

However, detractors argue that her ascension risks turning Bangladesh into a one-party state where democracy is under threat, as strengthened government agencies deploy oppressive measures to silence critics, limit press freedoms, and restrict civil society.

Bangladesh is feeling the effects of the global economic slowdown, which has exposed holes in the country’s economy, resulting in labor unrest and displeasure with the administration.

After casting her ballot, Hasina rejected worries about the vote’s legality, telling reporters that she was answerable to the people and that whether they accepted the election was irrelevant.

“I’m trying my best to ensure that democracy should continue in this country,” she said. “Without democracy, you cannot make any development.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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Trudeau Determined to Avoid Early Election After NDP Coalition Ended

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Trudeau Government's severe unpopularity

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasised he does not want an early election and said he will want to work with his former partner just hours after the New Democratic Party (NDP) withdrew from an agreement it had with the current Liberal Party Government.

“I look forward to conversations with Mr. (Jagmeet) Singh about how we’re going to continue to demonstrate that confident countries invest in their citizens, invest in their future, because that’s what we’re doing,” Trudeau said, addressing the media in the town of Rocky Harbour, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. That declaration came shortly after Jagmeet Singh, who has been in power since March 2022, declared his party was leaving the Supply and Confidence Agreement.

As in previous years, Trudeau continued, “I’ll let others focus on politics, but I will point out that I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, rather than focusing on politics.”

With Trudeau’s party in the minority in the Commons, the opposition Conservative Party is preparing to call for an early election through the possibility of a no-confidence resolution when the House reconvenes on September 18.

The timing of the motion is still unknown, according to reports from Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party, who stated, “At this time, we don’t have a calendar to indicate when we can put forward a motion.”

“After Sellout Singh did this stunt today, he is going to have to vote on whether he keeps Justin Trudeau’s costly Government in power,” he stated, putting further pressure on the NDP.

“I certainly hope that the NDP will stay true to its fundamental values, which is making sure that Canadians get the support they need and keeping away from the austerity, the cuts, and the damage that will be done by Conservatives if they get the chance,” stated Trudeau, expressing optimism that early elections can be avoided.

October 2025 will see Canadian federal elections, but Trudeau’s Liberals only have 154 members of the 338-member House. It had made it through until Wednesday morning thanks to the backing of the 25-member NDP caucus.

Posting a video message on Wednesday, Singh claimed to have “ripped up” the accord and stated that “Canadians are fighting a battle.” A struggle for the middle class’s future. Justin Trudeau has often demonstrated his willingness to give up to corporate greed. People feel let down by the Liberals. From Canadians, they don’t deserve another opportunity.

The news coincided with the Trudeau Government’s severe unpopularity, which has negatively impacted the NDP. The non-profit public polling organisation Angus Reid Institute, or ARI, released a survey indicating that the Conservatives have 43% of the vote, a significant 22% lead over the ruling party.

Related News:

Justin Trudeau Hellbent on Destroying Canada

Justin Trudeau Hellbent on Destroying Canada

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Kamala Harris Challenges Donald Trump to Transparent Debate with Live Microphones

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Kamala Harris Challenges Donald Trump to Transparent Debate with Live Microphones

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the US presidential election in November, called on her Republican opponent Donald Trump to debate her with their microphones turned on during the event.

Kamala Harris and the former president have agreed to debate on September 10th, which will be hosted by ABC News.

Donald Trump is giving in to his aides, who refuse to allow him to debate with a live microphone. “If his own team doesn’t believe in him, the American people certainly won’t,” Kamala Harris wrote on X.

“We’re running for President of the United States. Let’s have a transparent debate, with microphones on the whole time.”

Trump has stated that he prefers to keep his microphone on and did not like it muted at the last debate against then-candidate Joe Biden.

So-called “hot mics” can help or hinder political campaigns by recording off-hand comments that were not intended for the public. Muted microphones also restrict debaters from interrupting their opponents.

A spokeswoman from ABC did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

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The discussion would be the first between Harris and Trump since Biden stepped out of the presidential race following a dismal performance at a CNN debate in June that prompted concerns about his mental acuity.

Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, and JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, have agreed to a CBS News debate on October 1.

ORIGINAL STORY: Why Kamala Harris Campaign is fighting for Unmuted Debate Mics

Some experts believe the Trump campaign’s eagerness to maintain the muting rule for the Kamala Harris debate on September 10 is because to the great reception he received in June for a more controlled performance than many had anticipated versus Mr Biden. In practice, it rendered interruptions impossible.

The former president, on the other hand, appears unconcerned with the regulation, and has even contradicted his own team’s statements advocating for its continuation. “[It] does not matter to me. I’d prefer to have [the microphones] turned on,” he stated on Monday.

“But we agreed that it would be the same as the last time. “In that case, it was muted,” he explained.

Trump announced on social media Tuesday afternoon that he had “reached an agreement” with ABC for the September 10 debate. He did not mention mics in the post, but did say that the “rules will be the same as the last CNN debate,” which included muted mics.

In the article, he also accused the network of being “unfair,” but added that his team had been guaranteed that the debate would be “fair and equitable.”

With only two weeks until the debate, the Kamala Harris team wants to change the agreed-upon regulations so that both candidates’ microphones are unmuted during the event. What do they believe they will benefit from this change?

More broadly, they feel it has the potential to show viewers an unfiltered, even irritable, Trump, who will be audible throughout Kamala Harris’s speech.

“Our understanding is that Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,” said Kamala Harris’s spokeswoman.

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Why Kamala Harris Campaign is fighting for Unmuted Debate Mics

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Why Kamala Harris Campaign is fighting for Unmuted Debate Mics

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are scheduled to face battle in their first presidential debate next month, but the campaigns are still fighting about logistics, specifically microphones.

Trump’s campaign is advocating for microphones to be muted when it is the other person’s turn to speak. Joe Biden originally requested this regulation as the Democratic candidate.

Trump’s team eventually consented to the request, which was clearly an attempt by Biden’s campaign to limit disruptions. (The pair’s turbulent first 2020 debate was marked by numerous interruptions, with Mr. Biden finally shouting at his rival: “Will you shut up, man?”)

Kamala Harris Campaign Advocates for Unmuted Mics: Potential Advantages

Some experts believe the Trump campaign’s eagerness to maintain the muting rule for the Kamala Harris debate on September 10 is because to the great reception he received in June for a more controlled performance than many had anticipated versus Mr Biden. In practice, it rendered interruptions impossible.

The former president, on the other hand, appears unconcerned with the regulation, and has even contradicted his own team’s statements advocating for its continuation. “[It] does not matter to me. I’d prefer to have [the microphones] turned on,” he stated on Monday.

“But we agreed that it would be the same as the last time. “In that case, it was muted,” he explained.

Trump announced on social media Tuesday afternoon that he had “reached an agreement” with ABC for the September 10 debate. He did not mention mics in the post, but did say that the “rules will be the same as the last CNN debate,” which included muted mics.

In the article, he also accused the network of being “unfair,” but added that his team had been guaranteed that the debate would be “fair and equitable.”

With only two weeks until the debate, the Harris team wants to change the agreed-upon regulations so that both candidates’ microphones are unmuted during the event. What do they believe they will benefit from this change?

More broadly, they feel it has the potential to show viewers an unfiltered, even irritable, Trump, who will be audible throughout Kamala Harris’s speech.

“Our understanding is that Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,” said Kamala Harris’s spokeswoman.

Source: BBC

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