The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has boycotted the election. The BNP alleges that the election will not be fair as the government has taken steps to suppress the opposition. As a result of the BNP's boycott, the main competition in the election will be between Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and Islamic fundamentalist parties. The Awami League has launched a comprehensive campaign to win the election. The party has put forward its agenda of development, peace, and prosperity.

India is concerned that if the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami return to power, it could lead to a rise in Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, as it did when the coalition government came to power in 2001 and 2006. In 2009, when Sheikh Hasina came to power, she took action against ethnic insurgent groups operating in India's northeastern regions who were based in Bangladesh. In this way, she won India's trust. Therefore, India also indirectly wants Sheikh Hasina's government to return.

The allegation against the Awami League government is that it is giving encouragement to Islamist groups. From fostering ties with the ultra-conservative Islamic organization Hefazat-e-Islam in Bangladesh to inaugurating foreign-funded mosques and witnessing the rapid growth of madrasas and new radical clerics, the Awami League is leaving no stone unturned to appeal to conservative Muslims for electoral gains. There are also accusations that the party is creating divisions among Muslims for electoral advantages.

In the midst of all these dynamics, a crucial question has emerged concerning the voting behaviour of the minority communities in Bangladesh. Despite allegations of violence and persecution against the Hindu community during the tenure of the Awami League government, they often cast their votes for the party. The BNP has accused the Awami League government of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Hindus and the exodus of a large number of minority populations. However, it is interesting to note that among the minority communities, the BNP is still seen as more disreputable. Despite these claims, it appears that the minority communities, particularly the Hindus, may still vote in favour of the Awami League.

The Sheikh Hasina government of Bangladesh has taken a number of steps to weaken the opposition ahead of the January 7, 2024, general election. . In line with this, the government has arrested hundreds of activists and leaders of the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on various charges. To do this, the Bangladesh government enacted the Ansar Battalion Bill 2023. Under this bill, the police have been given the authority to enter the homes of suspects, arrest them, and hand them over to the police. Under the guise of this bill, the Sheikh Hasina government has brought the opposition to its knees.

BNP leaders are boycotting the election for this reason. A rally was organized by the BNP in Dhaka on October 28. During this time, a policeman and a BNP activist were killed in the violence. After that, thousands of activists were arrested. All 68 prisons in Bangladesh are overcrowded, twice their capacity.

In the midst of all this, there is also a perception that the Awami League of Sheikh Hasina is afraid of the election, despite the opposition's boycott and decision not to participate. There is no clear logic behind this, but it is being said that the United States does not want Sheikh Hasina's government to return to power, so the United States is trying to weaken the Sheikh Hasina government in every way by invoking democracy. The US government has made it clear that it will impose a visa ban on those who weaken democracy in the Bangladesh elections. Other western countries are also following US line while Russia and China are favouring Awami League. The January7 elections have got the focus of attention of human rights groups also. It is to be seen how Hasina Government passes the test on the election day on Sunday. (IPA Service)