Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is expected to secure a fourth straight term in a one-sided general election, said on Sunday that she does not care about foreign media’s approval of the polls as for her acceptance to people of the country is the only important issue.

Hasina’s comments came after she cast her vote in the country’s 12th general elections, boycotted by the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

According to the Election Commission’s initial estimates, the voter turnout is around 40 per cent but the figure could change after the final count.

In response to a question on how acceptable the election will be (in foreign media) while the BNP is boycotting it, Hasina said that her responsibility is towards the people.

“Whether people accept this election or not it is important to me. So, I don’t care about their (foreign media) acceptance. No matter what did the terrorist party say or not?” she said.

“I have to prove credibility. Right, but, to whom, a terrorist party? A terrorist organisation? No, I have my accountability to my people. (I think) whether the people accept the election or not, and that is important to me,” she said.

About foreign countries’ interference, she said her Awami League party does not bother who says what about the election.

“Bangladesh is a sovereign and independent country. It may be a small country, but it has a large population—- I don’t bother who says what, as the people is our main strength,” she said.

The premier said they have ensured a conducive election environment confronting all the barriers.

“A conducive environment for election has been established. Your vote is very valuable, we struggled for the right to vote and I hope that all the voters will come to the polling centres and exercise their voting rights to continue the democratic trend,” she said.

Hasina expressed her gratitude to the people for their help in ensuring a congenial atmosphere for the election.

“There were so many obstacles and hurdles, but the people of the country were cautious about their voting rights. The national election is held every five years. And people will cast their votes freely and we have been able to create that environment,” she said.

About confidence in winning the election, she said, “InshaAllah, we will win the election...we will form the government. No doubt about it. We have faith and confidence in people that they will vote for Boat (her election symbol).” 

Sheikh Hasina said BNP-Jamaat committed subversive acts by setting fire to trains, and buses and burning people to death to obstacle holding a peaceful election, referring to arson attacks on trains on Friday night.

“The BNP-Jamaat clique does not believe in democracy and they don’t want the democratic process to continue. They don’t act for the welfare of the people,” she said.

‘BNP didn’t participate anticipating loss’

Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not participate in the parliamentary elections because it knew that it would lose, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Sunday. “The BNP has taken a strategy of boycotting the election with various excuses, various demands. They participated in the 2018 election and got some parliamentary seats, but this year they did not participate knowing they would be defeated,” Khan, a senior leader of the ruling Awami League, was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune newspaper.

Khan made the comments while talking to reporters after casting his vote at Monipuripara in Dhaka’s Farmgate area.The BNP is involved in killing people and arson attacks just as they did in 2014, he alleged.

“People do not want such torture and violence. So, they are coming to the polling stations in a festive mood,” he added. Voting for the 12th parliamentary election ended on Sunday amid sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition party BNP and its allies.

Ahead of the elections, Hasina’s government arrested thousands of rival politicians and supporters, a move which rights groups have condemned as an attempt to paralyse the Opposition.

As part of its boycott campaign, the BNP enforced intermittent transport blockades and strikes for the past three months. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018.

She is set to secure a fourth consecutive term as prime minister and a fifth overall term in the one-sided election. Hasina’s ruling Awami League (AL) is expected to win the election as the BNP of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls.

A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sunday’s polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the country’s Election Commission.

More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties were contesting in the election, besides 436 independent candidates.

Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, monitored the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security.

More than 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces have been deployed to ensure law and order during the polls.s