
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 1, 1991                   TAG: 9103010045
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: DHAKA, BANGLADESH                                LENGTH: Short

EX-PRESIDENT'S WIDOW WINS ELECTION

Khaleda Zia, who transformed herself in less than a decade from the self-effacing wife of a powerful general to a formidable political leader in her own right, on Thursday emerged the winner of the freest national election in this country's history.

With just four winners still to be declared in the voting on Wednesday, Zia and her Bangladesh Nationalist Party had a plurality of 140 seats in a 330-seat parliament - 300 seats openly contested, with 30 to be filled later by indirect vote.

Zia's nearest rival, an eight-party alliance dominated by the Awami League, led by Sheik Hasina Wazed, received 95 seats.

Sheikh Hasina lost four of the five seats she contested; Zia won all five of hers. So did the former president, Lt. Gen. H.M. Ershad, who was forced to resign in December. He is now under house arrest on corruption and illegal firearms charges.

Although Zia may fall short of a majority and be forced to seek a coalition partner, her showing was stronger than many had predicted.

Analysts here say that the success of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party must be attributed to Zia, the widow of President Ziaur Rahman, who was credited with having made the first declaration of Bangladeshi independence from Pakistan in 1971. He was assassinated in 1981.

The choice of the prime ministership or the presidency is now Zia's. Pakistan's democratic institutions are likely to be redefined in the next few months, because there are still many ambiguities.

by CNB