By Xinhua,
Dhaka : A huge number of voters turned up to polling centers amidst festive mood across Bangladesh Monday casting votes to elect the country’s ninth Parliament.
No major untoward incident was reported in the first few hours of voting that started at 8 a.m. (0200 GMT) and will continue till4 p.m., police said.
However, police arrested fake voters and some activists engaged in buying votes at different places.
In Madaripur district, 90 km southwest of capital Dhaka, at least 15 people were injured in clashes between rival candidates, police said.
Witnesses said men and women were seen standing in long queues at each polling centers. Many turned up before the vote began.
They said the number of voters was seen gradually increasing with the ticking of time, and the election officials as well as representatives of contestants expected larger voter turnout this time.
None is allowed to enter the polling center with mobile phone. City streets look almost empty as the authorities put restrictions on certain motorized vehicles.
President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor Dr Fakruddin Ahmed and Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed cast their votes in different polling centers in capital Dhaka.
Two main contestants for power — Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and immediate past Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Awami League President and also former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — cast their votes and expressed optimism of their victory.
“If the polling continues to be free and fair our four-party alliance will win,” Khaleda told reporters after casting vote at Adamjee Cantonment College and High School in Dhaka.
Hasina flashed V-sing after casting her vote at City College center in Dhaka also expressed the hope that her grand alliance of15-party will get the chance of running the country.
Security forces numbered around 600,000 including 50,000 army men were posted throughout the country to make sure voters exercise their right peacefully without fear.
In capital Dhaka armed police and paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles were seen patrolling the streets and polling stations.
More than 81 million people are eligible to vote to elect a 300-member parliament. Monday’s election will elect 299 members of parliament and election to another seat will be held on Jan. 12 as a candidate from the seat died.
The election is being monitored by 200,000 local observers and more than 500 foreign observers from the European Union, Commonwealth, the United States and some Asian countries.
Chief Observer of EU election observation mission Alexander Lambsdorff told reporters that the first few hours of voting was peaceful and enthusiastic.
“We’ll not only observe the polling but also observe the counting of votes, consolidation and announcement of the results. Our observation is not over,” said Lambsdorf, a member of the European Parliament.
The 9th Parliamentary elections was scheduled to be held on Jan.22, 2007. Due to the differences between BNP and Awami League over election issues, the political situation deteriorated. President Iajuddin Ahmed on Jan. 11, 2007 had to declared state of emergency and postponed the election.
The new caretaker government headed by former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed took office on Jan. 12, 2007 and has promised to hold a free and fair elections.