Staff Correspondent

All eyes are on Bangladesh as dawn breaks on the country’s 12th national election. In the run-up to the election, the Bangladesh polls have been receiving significant coverage by major global news outlets. The spotlight is not just aimed at the ballot boxes but, the very foundations of the nation's democracy and the potential for continued economic growth.

The global news coverage includes the “opposition” boycott, fuelled by allegations of voter suppression and a yearning for a caretaker government. The issue echoed in headlines like “Bangladesh Election Unlikely to Resolve Political Turmoil” by the Voice of America and “Bangladesh on edge as shadow of opposition boycott looms over Sunday's elections” by Anadolu Agency.

Beyond the boycott, anxieties swirl around reports of pre-poll violence. Al Jazeera calls it a “tense and uncertain atmosphere,” highlighting the recent arson attacks and a deadly train fire that have stoked fears of intimidation and unrest on voting day. This violence, attributed to opposition supporters, became a focal point for reports including Bangkok Post’s story “Fires on eve of Bangladesh vote raise tensions”.

Amidst the chaos, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s quest for a record fourth term becomes a narrative thread woven into the tapestry of global coverage. A number of stories centred on Hasina potentially bagging another win – an India Today story headline read “PM Sheikh Hasina likely to win 4th term”, The Guardian saying “Sheikh Hasina expected to win fourth term amid opposition boycott”, The Hindu with a story title “PM Hasina poised to win 4th consecutive term” while another Indian news outlet Mint ran a piece analysing “Will Sheikh Hasina win another term?”

The international community casts an anxious eye as the battle of the ballots unfolds with the European Union urging “fundamental freedoms and a transparent process,” while the United Nations pleads for “peaceful and inclusive polls.

However, despite the concerns and anxieties the global media also acknowledges Bangladesh’s potential. The Financial Times is one of the outlets that also questioned whether the polls will pave the way for stability.

Among scores of other stories, a few reports published on the eve of the voting day on Saturday include Gulf Today’s “Over 800,000 security personnel to safeguard Bangladesh polls”, The Independent’s “Bangladesh goes to polls knowing there can be only one outcome”, and Time Magazine’s “What to Know About Bangladesh's Election”

As Bangladesh goes to its 12th parliamentary polls, the whole world watches not just an election but a pivotal moment in the country’s democratic journey.