Dhaka  - The head of Bangladesh's army-backed interim administration Sunday urged political parties to accept Monday's election results gracefully in order to facilitate a smooth transition to democracy.

"It is the expectation of all that you will be co-workers shunning the path of hatred and vengeance," chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed said in a television address.

The parliamentary election is intended to return the country to democracy after nearly two years of rule by a military-backed interim government, which suspended civil and political rights after it was installed in January 2007 the wake of political turmoil.

More than 80 million voters are eligible to vote in the polls, which were originally scheduled for January 22, 2007.

The government earlier announced a public holiday for poll day. Balloting ends at 4 pm and vote counting is due to start immediately afterwards, according to election officials.

Each of the major electoral alliances led by the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which had been in power since 1991, are fielding candidates for all
300 parliamentary constituencies.

Thirty-nine political parties are contesting the polls which will be guarded by 650,000 police and troops. A five-tier security ring has been in place in and around the polling centres to ensure peaceful voting.

In his speech to the nation, Fakhruddin said his two-year assignment was about to finish with the holding of peaceful elections.

"We want to find unity, solidarity and unity in diversity. Today, it is critically important to have mutual respect, harmony and tolerance," he said.

Bangladesh's chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, also called upon the countrymen to keep patience and cast their vote peacefully. dpa