DHAKA, Dec 27: Candidates in elections which will return Bangladesh to democracy accused their rivals of corruption and vote-rigging on Saturday and an attack on a former leader’s motorcade fanned fears of more violence.

Rival supporters hit the motorcade carrying former military ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad, chief of the Jatiya Party and an ally of leading candidate Sheikh Hasina, police said.

“About 50 people armed with bricks and sticks attacked and badly damaged six vehicles. Around 20 people were injured,” a police officer said.

Ershad escaped unharmed.

The motorcade was on the way to a rally at his Rangpur home district 330km northwest of Dhaka.

Earlier police said they had found some 40 bombs around the country and detained more than a dozen Islamist militant suspects linked to possible violence plots.

Bangladeshis as well as foreign friends of the impoverished South Asian country of more than 140 million hope Monday’s parliamentary election brings a stable government.

That could attract much-needed investment and aid after two years of a military-backed government that suspended many rights.

Those hopes could be scuppered if widespread election-related violence flares up. Past Bangladesh polls have seen losing candidates and their supporters take to the streets.

Political violence in January 2007 was used by the interim government as a reason to take power and cancel an election scheduled for that month. Police have played down the threat to a smooth election this time.

—Reuters