Bangladesh vote held amid tight security

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-30  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SECURITY forces lined the streets yesterday as Bangladesh voted in its first election in seven years, a much-anticipated poll that was to restore democracy to the nation after two years of emergency rule.

Authorities deployed 650,000 police officers and soldiers across the country to prevent violence and vote fraud.

Many voters in the capital were still waiting in line when polls closed at 4pm local time. Election officials said those already inside polling stations would still be allowed to cast their votes.

There were scattered allegations of fraud and voter intimidation, as well as clashes between supporters of rival candidates in southwestern and northern Bangladesh that left 28 people injured, according to the United News of Bangladesh agency and the ATN Bangla television station.

Authorities feared the polls might degenerate into violence as the last attempt at elections in 2007 did, prompting the military to cancel the election and declare emergency rule.

Bangladesh's interim leader, Fakhruddin Ahmed, said the transfer of power to an elected government would be complete soon.

"We've waited for this day for the last two years," said Ahmed.

Residents of the capital, Dhaka, walked or rode in non-motorized rickshaws to polling stations because of government restrictions on vehicles during the vote.

But both of the leading candidates - former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina - are facing corruption charges. The two have traded power back and forth for 15 years in successive governments.