VOA标准英语2008年-Local Bangladesh Election Regarded as Key Step

In Bangladesh, local elections held in the country are being described as an important first step in restoring democracy. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, these were the first elections in the country since an army-backed government cancelled national elections and imposed emergency rule last year.
　
Voting in Bangladesh was held under tight security, 04 Aug 2008

A day after conducting a largely peaceful vote in four cities, Election Commission officials said the polls have sent a positive message that future elections in the country will be free and fair.

Independent election observers from home and overseas have also praised the conduct of the elections.

Monday's elections were held to choose local representatives, and covered only a fraction of Bangladesh's electorate¹. But they have been closely watched, because they are seen as a test run for national elections which the army-backed government has promised to hold in December to restore democracy.

The head of the independent National Election Observation Council, Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, says the voting was "fair and credible²." He says there was no sign of rigging, fraud or violence that has marred³ previous elections in the country.

"Compared to past elections in Bangladesh, the regularity⁴ of events yesterday was promising⁵ for the anticipated December parliamentary elections, and it inspires confidence in the electoral road map and the electoral officials implementing⁶ it," he said.

The polls were conducted using a new digital voter list prepared recently after eliminating millions of fake names in the electoral rolls.

Voter turnout was high despite long delays in some places due to confusion over the new identity system. Kalimullah of the National Election Observation Council says the state of emergency did not deter⁷ voters.

"We found from the very start, long queues, and those who received their national ID card [identity cards], proud owners of national ID cards for the first time in their lives, ventured out from their homes, and actually rushed to the polling stations," he said.

Election officials say candidates linked to the Awami League party have swept the voting. The government had banned the direct involvement of political parties, but most candidates were backed by national parties. The political parties have been urging the interim⁸ government to lift emergency to enable the restoration of democracy.

Bangladesh is due to hold another round of local polls by October. The Election Commission is then expected to announce a schedule for national elections.

 

1 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

2 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

3 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

4 regularity   

n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐

参考例句：

• The idea is to maintain the regularity of the heartbeat.问题就是要维持心跳的规律性。
• He exercised with a regularity that amazed us.他锻炼的规律程度令我们非常惊讶。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

7 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

8 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。