Ex-PM rejects Bangladesh poll results

Bangladesh’s ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia today rejected election results that gave her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Ms Zia said in a televised news briefing that she believes the results do not reflect the people’s opinion and it is not acceptable to the people.

It is her first reaction to the results that show the alliance led by Ms Hasina - another former prime minister – getting most of the seats in the 300-seat parliament.

The news briefing was broadcast live on Ekushey TV.

Yesterday, Bangladesh held the first election in seven years to restore democracy after a two years of emergency rule.

The Election Commission and polls observers have said the election was largely free and fair.