Voters back strongman

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 8

Voters back strongman

NZPA-Reuter Dacca President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh has won overwhelming support for his martial-lav; rule and 19point programme to put this desperately poor and dis-aster-prone country firmly on its feet. With results from about a third of all polling centres announced by early yesterday morning, General Zia — as he is university known — has won almost 99 per cent of the vote in a national referendum. The final result is expected later, but General Zia has so far won 11,729,352 votes with only 129,157 cast against him. The electorate were asked to say yes or no to the question: “Do you have confidence in President M a j o r-G e n e r a 1 Ziaur ■ Rahman and in the policies [ and programmes enunciated , by him?” ; The 41-year-old general, who also heads the army and is chief martial law ‘ administrator, now has a huge mandate for carrying out his socio-economic programme which will give 1 priority to agricultural ] development and try to 1 make Bangladesh self- 1 sufficient in food. Observers believe that there are several reasons for i the vast amount of votes in : President Zia’s favour. < One is the general respect i with which he is regarded, 1 another is the fact that mar- 1 tial law regulations pre- ! vented any public airing of 1

anti-Zia views, and a third is the emphasis which the Government and local officials put on participation in the referendum. Many opponents of General Zia may have expressed their views by refusing to cast their votes. The percentage poll has not yet been officially announced, but is expected to be far heavier than the 56; per cent recorded in the 1973 General Election. General Zia has been an effective ruler of Bangladesh since November, 1975, but only became President last month when his predecessor retired and nominated him for the office. General Zia has promised a General Election in December, 1978.