Bangladesh's 81m voters go to the polls today amid fears that a vote intended to restore democracy after two years of de facto military rule will instead emerge as a new point of contention between the country's two feuding political leaders.

The vote is being held almost two years after the army suspended democracy in January 2007, taking control of the impoverished country after violent clashes between supporters of Sheikh Hasina, of the Awami League, and Khaleda Zia, of the Bangladesh National party.