Low Voter Turnout, Apathy Mar Bangladesh's Local Elections.

The recent local elections in Bangladesh have been marred by low voter turnout and apathy. Factors such as perceived electoral irregularities, lack of competition, and disenchantment with local governance have contributed to this trend. Many races in the Upazila Parishad elections were uncontested, leading to a lack of motivation among voters. The average voter turnout across all four phases of the elections was 35.8 percent, and there are concerns about the declining voter engagement. Factors such as unconstitutional interference by MPs, excessive control by administrative officials, past irregularities, and questionable practices in local government elections have diminished citizens' trust in the electoral process. The lack of participation by political parties, security concerns, and intra-party conflicts within the ruling Awami League have further dampened voter motivation. It is important to address these issues in order to revitalize voter participation and restore trust in the electoral system. [Extracted from the article]