Its a crucial choice: secularism or fundamentalism.

MANASH GHOSH STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, Sept. 30. Bangladesh goes to the polls tomorrow to elect its eighth Parliament. Never before has the country witnessed such a fiercely fought election; nor for that matter has any election been so clearly polarised on religious lines. The run-up has been marred by unprecedented clashes between rival parties and bombings of political rallies which so far have claimed about 300 lives with Sheikh Hasinas Awami League being at the receiving end.

The electoral battle is between the Awami League representing the ideals of liberation war, including Bengali nationalism, democracy and secularism and Begum Khaleda Zias BNP-led four party Islamic alliance which wants Bangladesh to be turned into an Islamic state and establishing Islami Hukumat.

In terms of political stability and economic development in South Asia the poll outcome will be significant, especially against the backdrop of the gathering storm in Afghanistan. For India the electoral verdict will be crucial since peace, stability and development in its North-east are greatly dependent on the …