Bloody Bangladesh set for poll showdown

A Bangladesh soldier patrols the streets in readiness for Monday's poll

By staff and wires

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- More deaths, trademark insults and a huge security crackdown have prepared Bangladesh for Monday's parliamentary election.

Bangladesh people will vote for 300 seats after weeks of bloody campaigning that have seen almost that same number die.

More than 500,000 soldiers and police have been deployed and police say that at least 13 more people have been killed in the past two days.

Supporters accuse rivals of bombings, shootings and voter intimidation.

Former women prime ministers head the political parties that have been caught up in most of the deaths and about 3000 injuries.

Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia are sworn enemies whose vitriolic campaigns have led to the biggest yet mobilization of security forces.

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The head of the caretaker government, Latifur Rahman, a former chief justice, has even ordered that mobile phones be switched off during the vote so that no one can disturb the process or influence results.

He has also approved a sweep for arms, including the confiscation of licensed guns, and empowered the army to arrest trouble-makers.

Since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh has witnessed the assassinations of two presidents, three military coups and 19 failed coup attempts.

Hasina, who turned 55 on Friday, is the daughter of the country's slain independence leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She heads the Awami League.

Zia, 56, of the Bangladesh National Party, is the widow of another assassinated general-turned-president, Ziaur Rahman.

Last-minute pleas

Both made last-minute pleas to voters. Under the voting rules, all campaign rallies and processions had to end by Saturday midnight.

The two main parties have promised to promote democracy, end corruption and reduce poverty.

But neither would promise to refrain from holding general strikes against each other or walking out of Parliament if they lose the election.

"Vote for me and I will ensure that everyone gets enough to eat and a place to stay," Zia told more than 50,000 cheering supporters in Dhaka, the capital, The Associated Press reported.

Across town, Hasina addressed a similar-sized crowd, telling her supporters she would help lift the country of more than 130 million out of poverty.

"I beg you for your votes so we can build a prosperous nation," she said.

About 75 million Bangladeshis aged 18 or more are eligible to vote and 50 parties, fielding 1,900 candidates, are contesting the poll.

The election will be the fourth since democracy returned to Bangladesh in 1991 after the ousting of military ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad.

Hasina's Awami League won 146 of 300 elected seats in the last election in 1996, while Khaleda's party picked up 116.

Polls open at 8 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Monday and close at 4 p.m. (1000), with final official results expected by late Tuesday.