Polls have opened in Bangladesh, in an election aimed at returning the country to democratic rule after two years under a military-backed government.

More than 81 million people are eligible to vote on Monday, with 32 per cent of them first-time voters.

Polls across the country opened at 0800 (0200 GMT) and close at 1600 (1000 GMT).

Counting of votes will begin immediately after although results are not expected until well into Tuesday at the earliest.

On Saturday Sheikh Hasina Wajed of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the two main political leaders, spent the final day of campaigning criss-crossing the country, promising to lower food prices, fight militancy and curb corruption.

Commentators say the result could be close, with a hung parliament a strong possibility.

In final broadcast speeches on Saturday, Hasina and Khaleda both said it was time to end confrontational politics in which strikes and violent street protests have been common.

'A great day'

But at mass rallies they have accused each other of corruption, vote-rigging and incompetence, which may set the stage for post-election violence among partisans.

The women, nicknamed the "battling begums" for their intense personal rivalry, have dominated Bangladesh's political scene for the past two decades.

Waliur Rahman, a former government official, told Al Jazeera that the elections are a "great day for Bangladesh".

"This is akin to a second form of independence day for us. It is a turning point for our nation," he said.

The impoverished South Asian nation of more than 140 million has a history of questionable elections, sporadic periods of military rule, and politically motivated violence.

Security tight

But the outgoing army-backed government - which took over in January 2007 and cancelled an election due that month - says that at least when it comes to voting procedure and safety, this time things will be different.

"Perhaps we have taken the toughest ever security precautions to ensure that balloting takes place peacefully, free from rigging, intimidation and threats," Noor Mohammad, the inspector-general of police, told the Reuters news agency on Sunday.
 
"If anybody tries to do something, we will take drastic action."

Fifty-thousand troops have been deployed, as well as 75,000 police and 6,000 members of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), along with other auxiliary forces for security.

In addition about 200,000 local and 2,000 foreign monitors will be at polling centres to check procedures.

The newly elected government has a massive task of improving the lives of millions in a country where some 45 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

While Hasina and Khaleda alternated in power for 15 years through to 2006, critics say they barely contributed to resolving many of Bangladesh's problems, mainly due to their parties taking to the streets in protests and strikes when out of office.

Analysts also say the women's policy differences are small and to attract much needed investment and aid what matters for Bangladesh is less who wins than that the election brings stability and peace.

"Once the result is known, it is vital that both the victor abd the loser - whoever they may be - work together in the interes tof the country," said Cassam Uteem, head of the Commonwealth Observer Group.