INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina insisted she had no desire "to remain in power"
in an election marred by deadly violence that opposition slammed as "farcical" and rigged.Hasina's ruling Awami League party and its allies
won 288 seats in 300-seat parliament, with main opposition securing only six seats.Hasina, who got a record fourth term, swept aside
opposition protests over clashes between rival supporters that left at least 17 dead and allegations of ballot box stuffing and
intimidation."The election was totally free and independent
There is no doubt about it," 71-year-old Hasina said."I have nothing to hide
Whatever I do I do it for country
My conscience is clear," she added in comments to reporters.Hasina insisted she had no desire "to remain in power" and that voters had
backed her party because of Bangladesh's economic growth during her decade-long rule.The opposition alliance led by Bangladesh National
Party (BNP) said it had been target of a crackdown for months leading up to Sunday's poll and called for a rerun."We are demanding that a
fresh election is held under a neutral government as early as possible," alliance leader Kamal Hossain told reporters.Election authorities
said they had not received a single complaint against vote.Hasina has been lauded for boosting economic growth in poor South Asian nation
and for welcoming Rohingya refugees fleeing a military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar.But critics accuse her of authoritarianism
Arch-rival and BNP leader Khaleda Zia was jailed for 17 years this year on graft charges that her party said were politically
motivated.Deadly violence that blighted election campaign spilled over into voting day, even though authorities deployed 600,000 security
forces across country.Thirteen people were killed in clashes between Awami League and BNP supporters, police said
Three people were shot and killed by police who said they were protecting polling booths
An auxiliary police member was also killed by armed opposition activists, according to officials.Police have now confirmed 21 deaths during
election campaign and voting day."We'll Cast Your Vote"The opposition alliance accused Hasina's party of stuffing ballot boxes and using
other illegal means to fix result.BNP spokesman Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said there were "irregularities" in 221 of 300 seats.One voter,
Atiar Rahman, said he was beaten by ruling party activists in central district of Narayanganj."They told me not to bother, 'We'll cast your
vote on your behalf'," he told AFP.The opposition said unrest was stirred up to deter voters but election commission reported 80 percent
turnout.Free And FairIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was first international leader to call and congratulate Hasina, Bangladesh leader's
press secretary said.China's President Xi Jinping also greeted her with Beijing's envoy handing over "congratulatory messages".Experts say
Hasina's victory will be sullied by accusations that she hamstrung opponents."This result might affect our democratic system and might also
damage state institutions," Sakhawat Hussain, a former election commissioner, told AFP.The opposition claims some 21,000 of its activists
were detained during campaign, crushing its ability to mobilise support.Thirty-five of its candidates were arrested over what they said were
trumped-up charges or disqualified from running by courts, which Hasina's opponents say are government controlled.The leadership of
Bangladesh has alternated between Hasina and Zia, allies-turned-foes, over last three decades.Hasina's victory secures her third consecutive
term in office, and fourth overall.A daughter of Bangladesh's first president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina was gifted victory in 2014
election when BNP boycotted vote claiming it was not free and fair.Rights groups have since accused her administration of stifling freedom
of speech by toughening a draconian anti-press law and enforced disappearance of dissenters.Hasina rejects accusations of authoritarianism
but analysts say she feared young voters would support BNP.Her government was criticised this year for its heavy handling of weeks of major
student protests that brought Dhaka to a standstill.
