One killed, 100 hurt in Dhaka election

One killed, 100 hurt in Dhaka election

DHAKA (Reuter): Bangladeshis voted in large numbers in the country's second parliamentary election in four months yesterday, but the polling was marred by scattered violence that killed one person and injured nearly 100.

Voting closed at 4 p.m (1000 GMT) and counting of ballots began immediately. Final results from the 300 constituencies were expected by tomorrow.

Witnesses and poll officials said turnout was heavy and they expected at least 70 percent of the more than 56 million registered voters to have cast ballots.

After a peaceful start to elections that Bangladeshis hope will mark a turning point in their nation's disaster-prone history, fighting between political activists broke out in the afternoon despite tight security imposed by 440,000 soldiers and security personnel.

Police said Ismail Hossain Bahar, an election agent of the Awami League, was shot dead on Sandwip island. At least 10 people were wounded. Voting in eight polling centres on the island was suspended, local reporters said.

In Dhaka, five people were injured as activists of the Awami League and its main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, fought with home- made bombs and knives, witnesses said.

Police drove away the fighters, they said.

Violence was also reported in the southeastern Chandpur district, where at least 10 people were injured, officials said, adding that voting in three centres had been suspended.

More than 60 people were injured in clashes at Balaganj and Bianibazar constituencies in northeastern tea-growing district of Sylhet, local officials said.

Scattered violence was also reported in Nilphapari and Mithapukur areas in the north, police said.

Despite the violence, a senior police officer described the incidents as "fewer than feared" and said voting in most of the country was largely peaceful and disciplined.

A smooth election followed by a result that is accepted by the main contenders for power would be an encouraging boost for democracy in a nation that has spent much of its 25 years of independence under military rule.

"We are not apprehensive of violence during voting but we are afraid of violence when the losing party would refuse to accept the results," said a government official.

Among the first to vote in the capital Dhaka was Golam Azam, leader of the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party, who cast his ballot in a Bangladeshi election for the first time.

"I am delighted to be able to exercise my citizen's right for the first time in independent Bangladesh," he told reporters.

Azam opposed Bangladesh's 1971 independence from Pakistan and lived abroad until 1987 when he returned and regained his citizenship after a long court battle.

Yesterday's election was called after a vote in February was boycotted by opposition parties led by the Awami League of Sheikh Hasina.

Political analysts expect the race between the BNP and the Awami League to be close.

A third group, the Jatiya (national) Party, led by jailed former president Hossain Mohammad Ershad, is likely to hold the balance in the event of a hung parliament.

More than 150 Western and Asian observers monitored the elections, which were held under a caretaker government following the resignation of prime minister Khaleda in March.