BD election gains attention in India’s mainstream media

The 12th parliamentary election in Bangladesh has gained huge attention in Indian media as mainstream print and electronic media have carried out lead stories highlighting various aspects of the polls.

Beginning at 8 am, the voting continued till 4 pm without any break. The opposition BNP is boycotting the polls and called for a general strike to discourage people not to go to the polling stations.

Mainstream Indian media like NDTV, ANI, DD Metro, WION have aired a number of stories from the very beginning of the polls in the morning. However, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, Indian Express, News Stream and The Wire also carried out stories on the polls.

Besides, three Indian observers apart from independent observers along with dozens of Indian journalists are in Bangladesh to observe the polls and to give wide coverage on the polls in their respective media outlets.

Meanwhile, academics, former diplomats and Indian political experts also wrote several columns or post editorials in national dailies during the last couple of days on the importance of the election and how US sees Bangladesh’s election.

News agency ANI published at least three reports on the election, while NDTV aired three stories till noon with different headlines. They wrote that considerable voters have started coming to voting centres to exercise their right of franchise, ignoring BNP’s strike call.

The reports hinted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to win the 4th straight term as people vote amid strike, arson attacks and violence. NDTV is giving live updates of the election from spots.

It reported that 100 foreign observers, including three from India, have been monitoring the polls.

ANI filles three stories with separate headlines, while Hindustan Times filled stories with headline “Bangladesh Election: With no opposition, Sheikh Hasina set to win again”.

The Times of India published separate reports and a post editorial titled “Bangladesh Polls 2024” Amid the geopolitical slugfest, India watches cautiously”. Eminent Indian writer and foreign policy expert Sachin Parashar wrote the article.

The Hindu carried out a story with the headline, “Voters Cast Ballots in a BD Election Marred by Violence and Opposition Boycott”. It reported that18 arson attacks were carried out to foil the poll process. Indian Express, Business Standard and others Indian newspapers also published reports on Bangladesh’s election. The Indian

Apart from the Indian English language media, Bangladesh’s election also got importance in Hindi and other regional languages newspapers prominently.

However, Gautam Lahiri, an independent Indian election observer, today talked to BSS New Delhi correspondent over the phone from Gazipur.

Mr. Lahiri told BSS that they are visiting different polling centres in Dhaka and Gazipur districts from the morning. But, they were not reported any untoward incidents there. “We find agents of contesting candidates in polling centres."

He said election are being held peacefully and voters started coming...I thought that nobody will come out successfully without facing contest, he said, expressing satisfaction with the law and order maintained by police, RAB and other agencies.

According to Bangladesh Election Commission (EC), a total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote in more than 42,000 polling stations. Besides, over 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in the election, including 436 independent candidates.