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October 3, 2001
1035 IST

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BNP secures absolute majority, Hasina rejects result

Former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led coalition on Tuesday romped home with two-third majority in the 300-member Parliament, handing out its main rival Sheikh Hasina's Awami League its worst electoral drubbing.

But Hasina rejected the outcome of the polls alleging there was a 'conspiracy' to 'manipulate' the elections and threatened agitation.

It was not immediately clear if Awami League would join the Parliament with Hasina merely saying 'a decision would be taken when time comes'.

With results of 282 of the total of 300 parliamentary constituencies available, the four-party combine led by BNP secured 202 and its ally fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami bagged 16, two less than its best performance of 18 in 1991 poll.

The BNP with 186 seats in its kitty is itself in a position to form the new government on its own.

Awami League, which fought the poll alone, bagged just 61 seats, the party's most severe electoral drubbing after 1979.

Islamic Jatiya Okiya Jote, a party floated by former military ruler H M Ershad, managed 12 seats.

An elated Begum Zia said, "I'm overwhelmed with the massive support and love of the people."

Hasina accused the country's caretaker government, to which she handed over power in July to oversee the poll, and the Election Commission of jointly preparing a blueprint to manipulate the elections.

The expectation of the people was not reflected though the result, Hasina said.

Meanwhile, India on Wednesday said it looked forward to working together with the new government in Bangladesh.

"We look forward to working together with the next government in Bangladesh," an external affairs ministry statement said, adding the Indian Government has been closely following the election in that country.

"Given the size of the electorate, it was an impressive exercise. India is committed to a policy of friendship with all countries, particularly our neighbours," it said.

EARLIER REPORT:
BNP heading for landslide victory in Bangladesh

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