WASHINGTON (Reuters/Web Desk) - 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.
"The United States remains concerned by the arrests of thousands of political opposition members and by reports of irregularities on elections day," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Monday.
"The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair and we regret that not all parties participated."
The ruling Awami League party won 222 seats out of 298, according to unofficial results released by the Election Commission. The election was Bangladesh's 12th since independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Rights groups have warned of a virtual one-party rule by Hasina's Awami League in the South Asian country of 170 million people.
The daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding father of Bangladesh, Hasina, 76, first became prime minister in 1996.
Hasina played down the opposition's boycott and said her aim was to boost the economy.
In London, the British government said that democratic elections depended on credible open and fair competition, and respect for human rights, the rule of law and due process.
“These standards were not consistently met during the election period,” said the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of Britain, which is the former colonial ruler of the Indian subcontinent.
“We condemn the acts of intimidation and violence that took place prior to and during the campaign period. Such conduct has no place in political life. Not all political parties took part in the elections. The Bangladeshi people did not therefore have the fullest range of voting options. “
Tens of thousands of opposition leaders and activists have reportedly been arrested since Oct. 28, when the BNP staged the final of a series of mass rallies demanding that a caretaker government take the place of the Hasina one.
Ten people died in political violence that October weekend, and at least 21 more, mostly opposition members, have died since in clashes, blockades or arson.
Volker Türk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, on Monday said the arrests of opposition leaders and the alleged intimidation in the months leading up to the election are tactics that “are not conducive to a truly genuine process.”
He said the Bangladesh government needed to “strengthen the underpinnings of a truly inclusive democracy” and incidents of violence must be effectively investigated.
“Democracy was hard won in Bangladesh and must not become cosmetic,” Türk said in a statement. “The future of all Bangladeshis is at stake.”
Critics say that during her 15-year reign, Hasina has cracked down on free speech, muzzling the opposition and civil society, and has co-opted state institutions to do her bidding.
Britain, in its statement, said that all sides should attempt to break the impasse between the Awami League on the one hand and the opposition and activists on the other.
“Creating the conditions for a sustainable political settlement and vibrant civil society will enable long-term growth,” the statement said.
“We encourage all political parties to address their differences and find a common way forward in the interests of the people of Bangladesh.”