Ms Sheikh Hasina, a former prime minister, looks set to lead the impoverished country once again after her Awami League and its allies won an overwhelming victory in Monday's election.

Rival Begum Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh National Party said it wanted to give Ms Hasina a chance to govern, despite rejecting the vote as widely rigged and raising fears of violent protests.

'We know beyond any doubt the election was rigged and results were tailored,' BNP secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain said on Thursday. 'Yet we would like to give the Awami League a chance to rule and prove its efficiency.' International monitors say the vote was fair and credible.

The poll returned the South Asia nation of 140 million people to democracy after two years of emergency rule under an interim authority that took over at a time of political chaos.

One of Ms Hasina's party leaders, who declined to be identified, said she was likely to avoid picking old faces for the cabinet and select some new and younger ministers.

'This will reflect her desire for change,' the source said.

Another official said the army-backed interim government aimed to transfer power late next week. Ms Hasina's Awami League said it wanted the transition to be completed before Jan 10.

Challenges
The Awami League and its allies won more than two-thirds of parliament's 300 seats in Bangladesh's first election in seven years. A coalition led by Ms Khaleda, also an ex-PM, won 31 seats.

The Election Commission said more than 160 seats went to first-time candidates, many of whom are keen to effect change.

'We hope to change the parliamentary traditions, and work closely with the opposition in legislative business,' said Mr Fazle Noor Tapas, a young Awami League MP.

Ms Hasina and Ms Khaleda, nicknamed 'battling begums', alternated in power during the 15 years up to 2006 in Bangladesh's personality-dominated politics. But many problems went unresolved, in part due to the mass street agitation by their parties when out of office.

Ms Hasina has said there are many challenges ahead, such as curbing poverty, fighting militancy and boosting the economy.

Some 45 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

Ms Hasina said she was ready to offer senior parliamentary posts to Ms Khaleda and her party, and even a few ministerial positions as well, if they cooperated with her new government.

Analysts said cooperation would be a plus for the business climate and ease fears the military might take over again.

'I hope Khaleda will learn to accept the people's mandate, especially after the monitors have said the vote was of an international standard,' said columnist Abul Momen.

In the past, losing parties have often resorted to strikes and street protests that can turn violent - and provide a rationale for political intervention by the military.

Ms Hasina will also have to address the issue of war crimes.

She received massive support from those demanding the trial of people who helped the 1971 Pakistani army genocide in former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in the war of independence.

She discussed war crimes with Mr Ian Martin, the UN secretary general's special representative to Nepal, in Dhaka on Thursday.

Mr Martin, on a private visit, 'assured Ms Hasina of UN cooperation in arranging trial of war criminals if the Bangladesh government would request so', Mr Mohammad Zamir, Ms Hasina's foreign affairs adviser, told Reuters.

Election chief Huda said final figures showed that a record 86 per cent of 81 million eligible voters voted on Monday. -- REUTERS