Bangladesh political parties ask Govt to hold quick polls

The Election Commission said it would invite the two major political alliances to discuss how to hold the ninth parliamentary polls.

The two major political alliances in Bangladesh have asked the newly sworn-in caretaker government in the country to hold quick polls as the Election Commission prepared to invite them for talks on how to ensure that the general elections are peaceful.

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Praising the role of the Army, in reconstituting the caretaker government, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League-led mega alliance, however, demanded the recasting of the Election Commission, updating of voters' rolls and depoliticisation of the administration.

"We hope the new caretaker government will work for passing the people's power back to them by holding a free and fair election through reconstituting the Election Commission, preparing an accurate and correct voters' list, and neutralising the administration," the coordinator of the 14-parties Abdul Jalil said at a press briefing late on Sunday.

The four-party alliance, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said it would continue to observe the formation of the interim government and its activities for some days.

The BNP National Standing Committee at a meeting hoped that necessary steps would be taken to hand over power to elected representatives as early as possible to end the state of emergency declared by the president as a "temporary action," a statement issued by it said.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has said it would invite the two major political alliances to discuss how to hold the ninth parliamentary elections in the country peacefully.

Sources said the new caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed was expected to induct five more advisors any time.