Hasina wins Bangladesh's 1st election in 7 years

DHAKA, Bangladesh – An alliance led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won a landslide victory in elections aimed at restoring democracy to Bangladesh, an election official said Tuesday.

But even before the tally was complete, Hasina's opponents launched allegations of irregularities and forgery late Monday night — leading some to wonder if the election would be able to end a cycle of unrest that has made the South Asian country virtually ungovernable. The party led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said it would make a formal comment on the result later Tuesday.

Election official Humayun Kabir said Hasina's alliance won a two-thirds majority in Parliament after votes in most districts had been tallied.

"This has been a very free and fair election," Kabir told reporters at his office in the capital Dhaka.

Hasina asked her supporters not to take to the streets to celebrate the victory, fearing potential clashes with rivals. She was expected to speak at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.


Credits: Associated Press, AP – Bangladeshi former prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina gestures after casting her