Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is launching an election campaign amid an opposition boycott

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday officially launched the campaign of its ruling party, the Awami League, amid an election boycott by the country's main opposition party.

Speaking at a mass rally in the northeastern city of Sylhet, Hasina sharply criticized Bangladesh Nationalist Party for refusing to participate in the general election on January 7. She also blamed the party, led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and its allies for recent acts of violence.

Hundreds of thousands of Awami League supporters cheered and raised their hands when Hasina asked if they were casting their votes for the ruling party's candidates, United News of Bangladesh reported.

The prime minister condemned her arch-rival Zia's party after the country's railway minister said arson and sabotage were the cause of a passenger train fire that killed four people on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Hasina, along with the minister, accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of being behind it.

“They thought that the government would fall with some kind of arson. It's not that easy,” United News of Bangladesh quoted her as saying.

“Where did they get such courage? The black sheep sitting in London is giving orders and some people are here to play with fire. … Their hands will be burnt in this fire,” said Hasina, referring to Zia's son, Tariq Rahmanwho has been in exile in Great Britain since 2008.

Rahman was convicted on various charges of violence, including a grenade attack on an opposition rally in 2004, when his mother was prime minister and Hasina was opposition leader. He serves as head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the absence of the ailing Zia, who was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 17 years in prison.

On Wednesday, the party called on Bangladeshis to join a non-cooperation movement against the government by refusing to pay taxes.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the party's senior general secretary, also urged citizens and civil servants not to cooperate with Hasina's administration in running the country and holding elections next month in which the prime minister is seeking a fourth consecutive term.

Zia's party has periodically called for transport blockades and general strikes to demand Hasina's resignation. The party says more than 20,000 opposition supporters have been arrested since October 28, when mass anti-government protests turned violent.

The authorities blamed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for the attack on the official residence of the country's chief judge and the death of a policeman on the day of the rally. Hasina's critics say her administration has used the police and other agencies to silence them.

Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy with a history of violence, particularly in the run-up to and during elections. Campaigning for next month's vote began across the country on Monday, with around 1,900 candidates, including many independents, vying for parliamentary seats in 300 constituencies.

Zia's party's call to boycott the election came after its demands for the interim government to hold the election were not met. The party accused Hasina of vote rigging in 2018 and said it did not believe the upcoming elections would be fair. The boycott means voters have no choice but to re-elect Hasina.

The government rejected accusations of an attack on the opposition, but warned that any “acts of sabotage” or “attempts to create chaos” in the country would not be tolerated.

The United Nations, the United States and the European Union have previously called on all parties to refrain from violence and work together to create conditions for free, fair and peaceful elections. The call for political dialogue was not answered by the two main parties.