DHAKA, Jan 2: The party of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia said on Friday she was ready to work with her bitter rival Sheikh Hasina who will lead the new government following elections this week.

Ms Hasina, who led her Awami League and its allies to a huge win in the election, is expected to be sworn in on Monday, her party said, ending two years of rule by an army-backed interim administration.

Ms Khaleda had challenged the result but later her Bangladesh Nationalist Party said it would give Ms Hasina a chance to govern.

On Friday, in a further sign of reconciliation between the two leaders known as the “battling Begums” for their decade-old animosity, the BNP said it was ready to do business with the new administration.

“Khaleda Zia will be ready to cooperate with the incoming prime minister and her government,” BNP Secretary-General Khandakaer Delwar Hossain said. “We hope Sheikh Hasina will invite Khaleda Zia and discuss cooperation.”

Ms Hasina had earlier said she was ready to offer senior parliamentary posts to Ms Khaleda and her party, and even a few ministerial positions as well, if they cooperated with her new government.Bangladesh, a calamity-prone Indian Ocean coastal country of more than 140 million people, has a history of post-election violence, usually triggered by the losing parties.

The losers have often resorted to strikes and street protests that can turn violent and provide a rationale for political intervention by the military.

But analysts said the result from Monday’s election was so decisive that it would be difficult for the BNP to mount a popular campaign.

Hasina’s alliance won more than two-thirds seats in the 300-member parliament, against just 31 by Khaleda’s group, its worst showing in any poll.

“This time it is going to be different, largely because the gap between winners and losers is as wide as an ocean,” said Ataur Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Political Science Association.

Parliament secretariat officials said on Friday the newly elected legislators will be sworn in over the next two days.

The members of the Awami League and allied parties will take oath on Saturday afternoon while those from the other group led by Khaleda’s BNP are expected to be sworn in on Sunday.

The new prime minister is expected to take oath on Monday, officials of Hasina’s party and the outgoing government said. “Sheikh Hasina will take oath as new prime minister likely on Monday,” Sayed Asharaful Islam of the Awami League said.—Reuters