September 21, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 20, 1429

DHAKA, Sept 20: Bangladesh’s interim government announced on Saturday that parliamentary elections would be held on December 18.

Fakhruddin Ahmed, chief adviser to the country’s caretaker government, announced the much-anticipated date in a nationally broadcast speech.

“I would like to inform the nation that the election commission has decided to hold the parliamentary elections on Dec 18,” Ahmed said in his speech shortly before flying to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Ahmed said that elections to local village and town councils would be held in two phases – on Dec 24 and 28.

Bangladesh has been ruled by a military-backed interim government since January 2007, when President Iajuddin Ahmed cancelled scheduled general elections and declared a state of emergency. The president’s move came after months of violent protests demanding electoral reforms.

Ahmed said emergency rules which bar public gatherings will be relaxed or suspended during the election campaign for 300 parliamentary seats. Bangladesh’s National Parliament has 330 seats, 30 of which are reserved for women who are selected later by the elected lawmakers.

Ahmed said the election commission would soon announce election details such as a deadline for filing nomination papers and campaigning.

The interim government has initiated some electoral reforms, such as making it mandatory for political parties to register with the election commission. It has also compiled a new electoral roll, including voters’ photographs to avoid cheating.—AP