Bangladeshis vote for 1st time in 7 years

[Adsos Letter]

Source: AP/Las Vegas Sun

The Associated Press

Sun, Dec 28, 2008 (7:54 p.m.)

Bangladeshis formed long lines at polling stations even before voting began Monday to choose a new prime minister and restore democracy after two years of emergency rule in the country's first election in seven years.

Authorities deployed 650,000 security forces across the country to prevent violence and vote fraud in the election, seen as crucial to restoring democracy in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which has a history of military rule and political unrest.

But both of the leading candidates _ former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina _ are facing corruption charges and many fear the election won't bring the reform the impoverished country of 150 million desperately needs. The two have traded power back and forth for 15 years in successive governments marked by corruption, mismanagement and paralyzing protests.

S.A. Quader, a 57-year-old businessman, was among about 500 voters who arrived a polling station in the capital's northern Uttara district at least an hour before it opened.



Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/dec/28/bangladeshis-vote-for-1st-time-in-7-years/