DHAKA, Sept 30: Bangladesh’s main opposition party said on Saturday it had accepted a government offer for talks aimed at defusing a major row over electoral reforms ahead of looming parliamentary elections.

The opposition has threatened to boycott the January polls if Prime Minister Khaleda Zia refuses to replace election officials it accuses of being biased towards the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

“We’ve accepted the government’s offer for talks and we shall hold the meeting within one or two days,” said Abdul Jalil, the secretary-general of the main opposition Awami League.

Mr Jalil said he called BNP secretary-general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan on Saturday to formally accept the plan for talks on electoral reforms, which the opposition says are vital for free and fair elections.

He said he would lead the 14-party opposition alliance in the talks.

Mr Bhuiyan telephoned Jalil on Friday to make the offer for discussions between the two leaders. The proposal came days after the opposition threatened non-stop protests and strikes to force the acceptance of its demands.—AFP