Bangladesh election campaign ends with new death, arrests

Bangladesh’s general election campaign ended yesterday with more deadly violence and arrests of opposition activists which have raised international concern as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeks a record fourth term. A ruling Awami League party supporter was killed by opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) followers, police said.

The BNP claimed 19 more of its activists had been detained ahead of Sunday’s vote. Authorities suspended high speed 3G and 4G internet services for several hours in an effort to fight what a telecoms watchdog official called the “propaganda” fuelling unrest. The official campaign ended after seven weeks of widespread street clashes and accusations of an official crackdown on the opposition. An opinion poll indicated Hasina is favourite to win despite the controversy.

Police said the Awami League supporter was beaten to death in the northeastern city of Sylhet late Thursday. They had already reported the deaths of two Awami League activists since the campaign opened on November 8. The BNP says eight of its supporters have been killed in election clashes.

Tousands of Awami League supporters rallied in the capital as candidates made a last-minute pitch for votes. The BNP, which says thousands of its activists have been locked up as part of a bid to rig the election, said it had been prevented from holding its final rally in Dhaka.