Dhaka, Jan. 10 -- On April 28, 2015 Bangladesh held municipal elections for mayors and ward councillors in Dhaka North, Dhaka South, and Chittagong. The city corporation elections, as they are called, were important for many reasons. They were the first municipal elections held in Dhaka City since 2002, and the most significant elections since the national election held in January 2014. Unfortunately, the elections failed to live up to the expectations of the opposition.

The BNP announced their boycott of the elections around 12pm on the polling day. They defended their position by saying that their polling agents were intimidated and evicted and ballot stuffing had begun early on in the day. The Awami League candidates thus ran out winn...