Election Special: December 18, 2008 Headlines

BDNews24.com:

• Hasina promises equal rights for people of all faiths
• RAB cracking down on militants, extremists before polls
• Ershad demands AL pull-out in 11 seats
• BNP, Jamaat shameless: Ershad
• HC will be heeded up to Dec 28: CEC

The Daily Star:

• ACC finds Koko’s Tk 11cr stashed in S’pore bank: He conceals the money in wealth report
• Alliances have consequences
• Upazila Polls: 300 candidates identified as loan defaulters

The Daily Independent:

• CEC unhappy over role of law enforcers Violation of poll code of conduct

The New Age:

• Godfathers running in polls on BNP tickets, says Hasina

The New Nation:

• EC holds high-profile meet: Security for women, minority voters urged

The Bangladesh Today:

• If militant partronisers return to power, country to face disaster: Hasina
• Khaleda promises stamping out “monga” in northern region
• EC in trouble over cancelled candidates getting back

News from Bangladesh:

• Criminals start returning to respective areas ahead of JS polls

Economic Times India:

• Bangladesh’s Jamaat alter ego of India’s BJP

Reuters UK:

• ANALYSIS-Army influence may not go away after Bangladesh vote
• ANALYSIS-Bangladesh’s return to democracy poses risks

Associated Press Of Pakistan:

• Commonwealth to observe Bangladesh Elections

VOA:

• Bangladeshi Troops Deploy Nationwide Ahead of Elections

Op-eds:

• On elections and mazar visits – Mahfuzur Rahman
• Digital politics – Adnan Morshed
• Limitations of election promises – Dr. M. S. Haq