Reuters AlertNet Lite - Bangladesh's poll chief seeks end to politics ban

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Bangladesh's poll chief seeks end to politics ban

05 Apr 2007 08:05:31 GMT
Source: Reuters

DHAKA, April 5 (Reuters) - Bangladesh's Election Commission has urged the country's army-backed interim government to lift a ban on indoor political meetings and to allowing limited party activity while it prepares to hold elections.

All political activity has been banned since the government imposed a state of emergency on Jan. 11 following weeks of violence. Parliamentary elections planned for Jan. 22 were also postponed indefinitely.

The appeal to allow indoor political meetings was made on Wednesday by Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda, during a meeting with the government's law and information adviser, Mainul Husein.

Huda said the commission needed to start discussions soon with political parties on a number of electoral reforms and also the compilation of new voters roll.

"If the ban goes we can start dialogue with the political parties," Huda told reporters.

He made the plea a day after U.S. Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis met him and asked for an election timetable.

The government insists that holding a free and credible election is a priority, but it first wants to complete a crackdown on corruption.

Since January, security forces have detained more than 160 key political figures for alleged graft and abuse of power.

They include Tareque Rahman, son of most the recent prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, who was detained on March 7.

On Thursday, Tareque was taken to a so-called quick trial court to be formally charged, but the case was adjourned until April 17, court officials said.

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Last updated:Thu Apr 5 08:06:47 2007