This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25602436

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Bangladesh goes to polls amid violent opposition protests Bangladesh votes amid violence and boycott
(about 1 hour later)
Voting has started in Bangladesh's parliamentary election amid opposition protests that have left scores dead and 100 polling stations torched. Violent clashes have erupted between opposition activists and police as Bangladesh holds a general election boycotted by the opposition.
At least two opposition supporters were killed in new unrest on Sunday. At least four people were killed in unrest on Sunday. Scores have died in the run-up to the polls.
Dozens of polling stations have been torched and voting is suspended at more than 100. Polling is said to be thin.
The opposition is boycotting the vote with a two-day strike against what it called a "scandalous farce".The opposition is boycotting the vote with a two-day strike against what it called a "scandalous farce".
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League is assured of victory, with government candidates already declared victors by default in many seats.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League is assured of victory, with government candidates already declared victors by default in many seats.
She rejected demands for her to step down and a neutral government to oversee the poll, as in previous years.She rejected demands for her to step down and a neutral government to oversee the poll, as in previous years.
Bitter enemiesBitter enemies
"The polls opened across the country at 08:00 (02:00 GMT)," said election commision spokesman SM Asaduzzaman, the Agence France-Presse news agency reported. Voting will continue until 16:00. "The polls opened across the country at 08:00 (02:00 GMT)," said election commission spokesman SM Asaduzzaman. Voting will continue until 16:00.
Voting is expected to be patchy - and in more than half of constituencies there is no voting at all, because the opposition boycott has led to government candidates being declared winners in advance. In more than half of constituencies there is no voting at all, because the opposition boycott has led to government candidates being declared winners in advance.
Police and election officials reported arson attacks at around 100 polling stations in some 20 districts around the country on Saturday, including in the capital, Dhaka. Police opened fire as protesters tried to take over polling station in northern Rangpur district, killing two people.
Many polling stations are based in schools and other civic buildings. In Nilphamari district, police also fired on about two dozen protesters. Two people died.
A government administrator in the south-eastern Chittagong region said there would not be any polls cancelled there as a result of the attacks. In the opposition stronghold of Bogra, the police chief told AFP: "We've seen thousands of protesters attack polling booths and our personnel at a number of locations with Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs."
"We've already made a move to shift three polling centres which have been torched by protesters," Mohammad Abdullah told AFP. Media reported that more than 100 polling stations were torched overnight - adding to a similar number the night before.
In other violence, police said at least 12 people were injured when a petrol bomb was hurled through the window of a train in the north-west town of Natore. One Dhaka resident who refused to vote, Aminul Islam, told the Associated Press: "We never expected such an election. For such a situation both the government and opposition are responsible. They don't want to establish democracy."
Security is tight, with some 50,000 troops reportedly deployed around the country for the election period. One polling station in Dhaka's Mirpur district recorded only 25 ballots out of 24,000 registered voters in the first two hours, AP reported.
Security is tight, with some 50,000 troops reportedly deployed around the country for the election.
But the BBC's Mahfuz Sadique in Dhaka says that, given the arson attacks and attempts to steal ballot papers and despite the heavy police presence, voters are wary about how secure they would be in coming to the polling stations.
'Caretaker administration'
The opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) began a nationwide 48-hour strike on Saturday a day after its leader Khaleda Zia urged supporters to "completely boycott" what she called a "scandalous farce" of an election.The opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) began a nationwide 48-hour strike on Saturday a day after its leader Khaleda Zia urged supporters to "completely boycott" what she called a "scandalous farce" of an election.
She accused the government of placing her under house arrest - something the authorities deny.She accused the government of placing her under house arrest - something the authorities deny.
Not in doubt
The strike is only the latest in a string of protests by the BNP and its allies - including the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party - that has seen a blockade of roads, railways and waterways and the closure of shops, schools and offices.The strike is only the latest in a string of protests by the BNP and its allies - including the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party - that has seen a blockade of roads, railways and waterways and the closure of shops, schools and offices.
At least 100 people have been killed during weeks of election violence. In the run-up to the polls, scores of opposition supporters died in police shootings and dozens of commuters were burnt to death by protesters throwing petrol bombs at strike-defying buses.
Scores of opposition supporters have died in police shootings and dozens of commuters have been burnt to death by protesters throwing petrol bombs at strike-defying buses.
One voter in the capital, Dhaka, Hazera Begum, told Associated Press: "I want to go to vote, but I am afraid of violence. If the situation is normal and my neighbours go, I may go."
The US and the EU have refused to send observers, further raising questions over the electoral process, correspondents say.
All elections since 1991 have been held under a neutral caretaker administration to ensure that voting is not fixed.All elections since 1991 have been held under a neutral caretaker administration to ensure that voting is not fixed.
But the Awami League abolished the caretaker system in 2010, arguing that it was no longer necessary. It used its two-thirds majority in parliament to make the change.But the Awami League abolished the caretaker system in 2010, arguing that it was no longer necessary. It used its two-thirds majority in parliament to make the change.
A special envoy of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came to Dhaka last month with the aim of getting the two sides to talk to each other but the dialogue never got off the ground.
The government has insisted that the BNP should take part in the polls within the existing constitutional framework. It says that the opposition should discuss any changes it wants after the vote.The government has insisted that the BNP should take part in the polls within the existing constitutional framework. It says that the opposition should discuss any changes it wants after the vote.
Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia - who are bitter political enemies - have alternated from government to opposition for most of the past two decades.Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia - who are bitter political enemies - have alternated from government to opposition for most of the past two decades.