This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7802529.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Security tight in Bangladesh vote Security tight in Bangladesh vote
(about 2 hours later)
Security is tight across Bangladesh for elections to return the country to democracy after two years of a military-backed interim government.Security is tight across Bangladesh for elections to return the country to democracy after two years of a military-backed interim government.
About 50,000 soldiers and 600,000 police have been deployed to guard against election fraud and violence.About 50,000 soldiers and 600,000 police have been deployed to guard against election fraud and violence.
Polling has so far been calm, with voters lining up in their thousands.
The frontrunners, the Awami League of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have ruled Bangladesh for years.The frontrunners, the Awami League of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have ruled Bangladesh for years.
Both leaders were jailed for corruption but released to contest the vote.Both leaders were jailed for corruption but released to contest the vote.
The two rivals have pledged to lower food prices, and to tackle corruption and terrorism in the poor nation of 144 million people. Perhaps we have taken the toughest-ever security precautions to ensure that balloting takes place peacefully Noor MohammadPolice inspector general class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7802562.stm">In pictures: Bangladesh votes class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7798187.stm">Battle of familiar foes
Perhaps we have taken the toughest-ever security precautions to ensure that balloting takes place peacefully, free from rigging, intimidation and threats Noor MohammadPolice inspector general class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7802562.stm">In pictures: Bangladesh votes The two rivals have pledged to lower food prices, and to tackle corruption and terrorism in the nation of 144 million people.
In final campaign speeches broadcast on Saturday, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia promised to end the confrontation, strikes and violent street rallies which have marked Bangladeshi politics for years. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia have also both promised to end the confrontation, strikes and violent street rallies that have marked Bangladeshi politics for years. The two women alternated in power for 15 years until 2006.
The two women alternated in power for 15 years until 2006. Polls close at 1600 local time (1000 GMT) and the Election Commission hopes to start announcing results at about 1300 GMT.
Observers say there may be no clear winner in parliament.
Anti-corruption driveAnti-corruption drive
Long queues formed as Bangladeshis began to vote at the country's 35,000 heavily-guarded polling stations. Long queues formed as Bangladeshis began to vote at the country's 35,000 heavily guarded polling stations.
"Perhaps we have taken the toughest-ever security precautions to ensure that balloting takes place peacefully, free from rigging, intimidation and threats," said Noor Mohammad, the Inspector General of Police. The BBC's Mark Dummett in the capital, Dhaka, says the mood at the polling station he visited - at Dhaka University - was festive, with a lot of enthusiasm to see the end of the military-backed government. There has been no serious violence reported so far.
Some 200,000 electoral observers, including 2,500 from abroad, are monitoring the vote. Thousands of people have been waiting in line to vote in the election
Sheikh Hasina cast her vote shortly after polling started.
"We have waited so long... but [are] feeling good the election is held at last," she said.
Some 200,000 electoral observers, including 2,500 from abroad, are monitoring the national vote.
Noor Mohammad, the Inspector General of Police, said: "Perhaps we have taken the toughest-ever security precautions to ensure that balloting takes place peacefully, free from rigging, intimidation and threats."
The army cancelled elections due in January 2007 after months of street protests and battles between gangs of rival party supporters spiralled out of control.The army cancelled elections due in January 2007 after months of street protests and battles between gangs of rival party supporters spiralled out of control.
An army-backed caretaker government then attempted to root out corruption from the country's elites. The army-backed caretaker government then tried to root out corruption from the country's elites.
The newly-empowered Anti-Corruption Commission sought to prosecute the top politicians and businessmen who had earned Bangladesh its reputation as one of the world's most corrupt countries, says the BBC's Mark Dummett in the capital, Dhaka. Our correspondent says the newly-empowered Anti-Corruption Commission sought to prosecute the top politicians and businessmen who had earned Bangladesh its reputation as one of the world's most corrupt countries.
More than 11 million phoney names were purged from the voter roll, which now numbers about 81 million people.More than 11 million phoney names were purged from the voter roll, which now numbers about 81 million people.
A simple majority of the parliament's 300 seats is enough to secure victory, but analysts say no clear winner may emerge, leading to fears of unrest if supporters of the rival parties take to the streets.A simple majority of the parliament's 300 seats is enough to secure victory, but analysts say no clear winner may emerge, leading to fears of unrest if supporters of the rival parties take to the streets.