Defeated Bangladesh party questions neutrality of poll observers

DHAKA - The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia Friday questioned the neutrality of international elections observers during Monday’s polls, in which the party faced an embarrassing defeat.

Hasina seeks UN help in trial of 1971 war criminals

DHAKA - Bangladesh poll victor Sheikh Hasina has sought the United Nations’ help in the trial of ‘war criminals’ - those who collaborated with authorities in the erstwhile East Pakistan in killing numerous unarmed civilians during Bangladesh’s freedom movement in 1971.

Bangladesh poll: Zia asks party leaders for ‘vote rigging’ evidence

DHAKA - The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has repeatedly called the Dec 29, 2008 poll as ‘farcical and stage-managed’, has asked its leaders to send evidence of vote rigging amid indications that party chief Begum Khaleda Zia may opt for confrontation over the resultsn that have decimated her party.

Hasina seeks opposition help to present ‘new political culture’

DHAKA - Riding a massive poll victory, Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina Wednesday called upon the opposition, which is unhappy with the verdict, to cooperate to end ‘destructive politics’ and jointly present the South Asian nation with ‘a new political culture’.

Bangladesh’s ninth parliament will have record 64 women

DHAKA - Bangladesh, where politics is dominated by two former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, will see a record 64 women sitting in its ninth Jatiya Sangsad (national assembly).

Awami League wins majority in Bangladesh polls

DHAKA - Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party won the ninth Bangladesh parliamentary election held Monday, the country’s election commission announced Tuesday.

Hasina, allies sweep Bangladesh polls

DHAKA - Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the nine-party alliance led by her Awami League raced to a landslide victory Tuesday, winning 259 seats of the 299 seats that figured in Bangladesh’s ninth general election, indicating that people had voted in favour of moderation.

High turnout marks peaceful Bangladesh polls

DHAKA - Bangladesh seemed poised for a peaceful return to democracy with its much-delayed ninth general election Monday witnessing a high turnout of voters. The balloting was by and large peaceful with stray violence and malpractices reported.

Bangladesh parliament poll starts on peaceful note

DHAKA - Polling began peacefully across Bangladesh amidst toughest security Monday to elect the country’s ninth parliament, election officials said.

Bangladesh’s Zia seeks vote ‘to save Islam and country’

DHAKA - Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia has been urging people to ’save Islam and the country’ by voting for her Islamist alliance nominees in the parliamentary election due Dec 29.