Bangladeshis go to polls to elect prime minister for first time in 7 years

Polls have opened under tight security as Bangladeshi's vote for the first time in seven years to pick a new prime minister, authorities said Monday. The Election Commission said the 8-hour polling began at 8 a.m. (0200 GMT) in more than 35,000 polling centers across the country. The election is seen as crucial to restoring democracy in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which has a history of military rule and political unrest. Still, the two top candidates are former prime ministers charged with corruption and many fear the election won't bring the reform the impoverished country of 150 million desperately needs.