Sheikh Hasina once fought for democracy in Bangladesh. Her critics say she now threatens it
by Krutika Pathi and Julhas Alam
Jan 03, 2024
4 minutes
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Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing a general election Sunday, a vote she is all but certain to win. Critics say it could further tighten her grip on power after a 15-year-rule that turned a politician who once fought for democratic freedoms into an increasingly autocratic leader.
Hasina's main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is boycotting the polls, claiming her government cannot ensure a fair vote, and making it increasingly likely the 76-year-old premier will secure her fourth consecutive and fifth overall term in office.
Her supporters say Hasina — the longest-serving leader in Bangladesh's history — and her have given them a country with a growing
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