In a chilly Sunday marked by low voter turnout, Bangladesh held its general elections under controversial circumstances. With the opposition boycotting the vote, concerns about the credibility of the elections have been raised.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, seeking her fifth term in office, called the boycotting Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) a "terrorist organization." The opposition, led by the BNP, has questioned the legitimacy of the elections and demanded the resignation of Hasina.

Despite the country's population of about 170 million, only around 40% of eligible voters turned up to cast their ballots, significantly lower than the previous election in 2018. Polling stations closed at 5 p.m., and counting of votes has commenced, with initial results expected to be announced by Monday.

Around 2,000 candidates are competing for 300 directly elected parliamentary seats, with an additional 436 independent candidates – the highest number since 2001. Reports indicate that voter turnout was particularly low, with only 111 people casting their votes out of nearly 4,200 registered at one polling station in Dhaka's west.

Amid concerns of violence, security forces were deployed across the country to safeguard the polling booths. The opposition has raised objections regarding the credibility of the elections, which they believe have been marred by economic slowdown, human rights violations, and a crackdown on the opposition.

Leading up to the elections, protests have rocked Bangladesh, and on Saturday, seven opposition members were arrested in connection with a train being set on fire in Dhaka. The BNP has called for a nationwide strike in protest, along with the demand for a neutral authority to oversee future elections.

Hasina, who cast her vote accompanied by her family members, has denied the opposition's claims of election rigging and accused them of fueling violent demonstrations that have resulted in at least 14 deaths since October 2022.

Bangladesh has been grappling with rising food prices and frequent power outages, adding to the turbulence leading up to the elections. As the counting continues, the political landscape of Bangladesh awaits the final results, which will shape the country's future leadership.