by Sumon Corraya

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) wins 60% of the vote in Sylhet, Barisal, Khulna and Rajshahi. Heavy defeat for the ruling party, the Awami League. Victory thanks to support of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Islamic party for months fomenting violence across the country.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has won the municipal elections in all four cities voting yesterday: Sylhet, Barisal, Khulna and Rajshahi. According to the National Election Commission, about 1.2 million voters, at least 80%, went to the polls. In general, the BNP candidate got 60% of the vote, against 40% of the ruling party Awami League candidates.

The clear BNP victory is a sign for both the country and for the AL. For months, the Nationalist Party has been supporting hartal (strikes) and events organized by the Jamaat-e-Islami (Islamic Party), which have often resulted in violence. Since February, the Jamaat has been battling the verdicts of the war crimes tribunals, created by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to judge the crimes committed by members of the Islamist party during the conflict that led to the independence of Bangladesh. Among the protagonists of these hartal, which have plunged the country and the population into almost constant tension, is Hefajat-e-Islam ("Protector of Islam"), one of Islamic fundamentalist groups that has sprung up like mushrooms in recent months, born within the numerous madrassas (Koranic schools) that are spread throughout Bangladesh.

In fact the "alliance" between the two opposition parties has favored the victory of the Nationalist Party. The Jamaat - who had no candidates in any of the four cities, ed - has proven it has a strong following among the population and that can exert influence in the upcoming general elections, scheduled for the end of the year.

 

• BANGLADESH
• nationalist
• part
• municipal
• eletions
• vote
• islamists