The chequered history of Bangladesh elections: A timeline

News Snapshot:

As Bangladesh heads to polls today (January 7), the outcome is all but certain. Incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League are set to return to power for a fourth straight term, as the main opposition, Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party, boycotts the elections. BNP’s current leader, the exiled Tarique Rahman has called the process a “sham” with a “predetermined outcome”. The BNP wanted the election to be held under a “caretaker government” to ensure a fair and unbiased process. But Hasina did not relent. Notably, BNP’s qualms with regards to the fairness of Bangladesh’s electoral process have...