US Puts Pressure on Bangladesh as Opposition Boycotts Election.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win the upcoming election, despite the boycott by the country's largest opposition group, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The US has been pressuring Bangladesh for a free and fair election, imposing visa restrictions on members of Hasina's ruling party and law enforcement officials. The US is the largest buyer of Bangladesh's exports, particularly in the garment industry, which employs around 4 million workers. India is concerned that US sanctions could push Bangladesh closer to China, as both countries already have strong ties. Bangladesh has made economic progress under Hasina, but the pandemic and soaring commodity prices have strained the economy, leading to a reliance on IMF loans. The outcome of the election and post-election stability will be closely watched by investors and the IMF. [Extracted from the article]