Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 29, 2008

Bangladesh Votes for New Parliament in Restoration of Democracy
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2137A68:A6F02AD83191E16090B7A99B0BD768AEB3350E090FE6A6E8&
 
Sunny weather, combined with voter optimism and a huge security presence
throughout the country has resulted in a high turnout for national
elections in Bangladesh 
Sunny weather, combined with voter optimism and a huge security presence
throughout the country has resulted in a high turnout for national
elections in Bangladesh. The process seems calm compared to previous
elections, but there have been some complications with the new digitized
voter identification system. Dhaka voters waiting in long lines to get
into their polling station After being held in line for hours, a
procession of voters is freed to run upstairs at a polling station in
Dhaka to cast ballots. The quest, for some here, ends in disappointment
as their identification numbers and names do not match. Shafiqur Rahman
Bhuiyan says he returned home from New Zealand just to vote. "I looked
for my number but the presiding officer he initially didn't cooperate
with me," said Bhuiyan. "Then I pressed him, then I tried to convince
him that, at least, I want to cast my vote. But, unfortunately, still I
could not." At another Dhaka polling station in the upscale neighborhood
of!
  Gulshan, the scene was more serene. Lines were short and moved along
quickly. Bangladesh security official checks voter registration at a
polling location Unlike past elections, businessman A.T.M. Shamsuzzoha,
was relieved to find an absence of party officials attempting to
intimidate voters. "There is no influence from either side," he said.
"You can easily vote. You can choose your own candidate."One fourth of
the 81 million eligible voters are on the rolls for the first time. Some
analysts believe these younger and previously disenfranchised minority
voters will be the ones who influence the outcome. "I'm a voter for the
first time, so I'm pretty excited because it's the first time I can
exercise my civil rights," said Saria Hossain, who works at a bank in
the capital. While there are more than 1,500 candidates from 38 parties,
as well as independents, the attention is on two former prime ministers
- Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party. The bitter rivals traded power over a 15-year period.
T
he last attempt to hold a national election in late 2006 ended in chaos,
prompting the military to step in and appoint a caretaker government
with emergency powers. The interim leaders jailed both Hasina and Zia as
part of a widespread anti-corruption campaign. But under pressure from
both of the major parties, the two women were freed to run for office.
The caretakers hope they can hand over power to a new government
expected to be formed when the reconstituted parliament meets in
mid-January.


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