Dhaka, January 6:

Sheikh Hasina Wajed was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister today, restoring democracy to the impoverished country after almost two years of rule by an army-backed regime.

President Iajuddin Ahmed administered the oath at the presidential palace in the capital

Dhaka in a ceremony broadcast live on domestic television channels.

Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party won a landslide victory in general elections last week that were hailed as “free and fair” by independent observers, ending two years of army-backed government.

Earlier, Dhaka police chief Naim Ahmed told AFP: “Security has been stepped up and traffic will be closed off around the palace,” he said, adding that giant outdoor screens had been set up in four key locations throughout the capital for members of the public to watch.

Supporters of Sheikh Hasina Wajed have also been massing outside her home since a ban on

political rallies was lifted five days ago.

“We have also put extra officers on duty outside her house because of the crowds gathering there,” Ahmed said.

Sheikh Hasina, 61, won 230 seats out of a possible 300, giving the Awami League a clear majority to govern without forming a coalition.

However the premier-elect, who also ruled between 1996 and 2001, has indicated she wants to end the confrontational politics that has paralysed Bangladesh’s political system for decades.

“I feel in the parliamentary system we can work together. I am ready to work with everyone,” she said following her victory, with MPs from outside her party to be included in her cabinet.

Sheikh Hasina — nicknamed the “daughter of democracy” as her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, led the country’s struggle for independence — has vowed to make the fight against poverty the priority of her administration.

Both Hasina and her bitter rival, ex-premier and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia, were jailed for a year by the outgoing army-backed government on corruption charges.

After initially rejecting the crushing election results, Zia said she would work with Sheikh Hasina — though she stood by allegations of voter fraud.

The women, nicknamed the “battling begums” for their intense personal rivalry, have dominated Bangladesh’s political scene since 1991.

Authorities tried to exile them, but failed and later released them so they could take part in last week’s elections.

Held under tight security, the first polls since 2001 attracted a turnout of 87 percent, with both leaders seeking to woo voters by expressing remorse over their past records.

One corruption charge against Sheikh Hasina, over the alleged extortion of 30 million taka (440,000 dollars) from a power company chief, was dropped only on Monday.

She still faces around 10 cases, according to her lawyer, including a charge of murder over the deaths of opposition party workers in the violent street protests two years ago.