Re-polling was completed peacefully on Monday in parts of 15 parliamentary constituencies where voting was suspended during last week's Bangladesh elections due to alleged ballot irregularities, officials said. Vote-counting in the 83 polling centres of the 15 constituencies in different districts began after the eight-hour voting ended, they said, adding that results were expected early on Tuesday. With this, the election was completed in 298 out of 300 constituencies. Polling in one constituency was withheld by a court while voting is due next month in another seat where a candidate's death earlier suspended the process.
Zia, whose BNP-led coalition won last week's parliamentary elections with a two-thirds majority, will be sworn in by President Shahabuddin Ahmed as the country's 14th prime minister.
Out of 283 seats declared, the BNP and its three Islamist and right-wing allies have bagged 201. The Awami League of outgoing prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed has won only 62 so far.
Sheikh Hasina has alleged vote-rigging in the October polls and has threatened protests and a boycott of Parliament unless fresh elections are held, sparking fears over the stability of politically volatile and impoverished Bangladesh.
Zia on Sunday appealed to Sheikh Hasina to shun the path of confrontation and take part in Parliament as an effective opposition party.
Bureau Report