August 28, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 25, 1429

DHAKA, Aug 27: Bangladesh police have abolished a political intelligence office they launched two weeks ago after protests by major political parties, the police chief said on Wednesday.

Nur Mohammad, Inspector General of Police, told reporters the political intelligence office (PIO) created to monitor party activities ahead of elections due around the end of this year “has been abolished because of resentments by the parties”.The PIO was intended to collect advance reports about the activities of political parties that could threaten law and order and harm the public interest, police had said earlier.

But the biggest parties — the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — cried foul over the unit’s creation, saying it would make politics more difficult.—Reuters