WASHINGTON: Elections in Bangladesh that were marred by violence and an opposition boycott do not appear credible, the US said on Monday.

The party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina easily won Sunday’s vote in which at least 18 people died. The opposition boycotted because Hasina refused its demands to step down and allow a neutral caretaker to oversee the elections.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf on Monday expressed US disappointment.

She said that with more than half of the seats uncontested and most of the remainder offering only token opposition, the results “do not appear to credibly express the will of the Bangladeshi people.”

Harf urged the government and opposition parties to hold immediate dialogue on holding fresh elections as soon as possible. She called on all sides to desist from violence.

“The economy is declining, democracy is being weakened and Bangladesh’s march toward development is faltering,” said Hassan Shahriar, a political analyst in Bangladesh. “The latest election and the opposition violence linked to it shows how they could not care less about the people they say they want to serve.”

The Awami League won 232 of the 300 elected seats, the Election Commission said, far more than the 151 required to form a government. Because of the opposition boycott, about half the seats were uncontested, allowing the ruling party to rack up many victories.