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Bangladesh all set to hold elections on Dec 29, Explosives seized

by Sanjay Jha | December 25, 2008 at 09:22 pm

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Amidst tight security People in Bangladesh are all set to cast their vote to elect new government. This election has marked a new beginning in the Bangladeshi politics. The last time Bangladesh prepared for elections, in 2006, months of strikes and street violence forced the army to step in.

The Election Commission in Bangladesh set a new date of 29 December after one of the country's two main parties refused to participate, saying that it needed more time to prepare.

Tough competition is being predicted among three powerful candidates in Bangladesh's general elections due next week.

Monday's election is the first in Bangladesh in seven years and will end two years of rule by an army-backed government.

Former military general Hussain Muhammad Ershad, 78, is thought by many analysts as the person emerging as the kingmaker.

Sheikh Hasina Wajed is widely tipped to become the next prime minister but, with a third of voters casting ballots for the first time, her rival Khaleda Zia could make it a close race - leaving Ershad holding the balance of power.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is spreading a five-tier security net in the capital involving 38,928 law enforcers to ensure peaceful holding of the December 29 parliamentary election.

Deployment of the security personnel -- 16, 090 from the DMP and 22,838 ansar members -- began yesterday and would end on Sunday, DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed said at a press briefing at his office.

Besides, detective police will be deployed as part of beefed up security.

Replying to a question, he said DMP has received no such information that militants and other criminals might attempt to disrupt polling.

The DMP commissioner said there are 1,834 polling centres in the metropolitan area. Of these, 875 have been marked 'important' and the remaining ones are 'general'.

An 11-member police team led by an inspector will be deployed at each important centre and an eight-member police team led by a sub-inspector at each general centre. In addition, 12 ansar personnel will be deployed at each of the polling centres, he said.