DHAKA, Nov 27: The Bangladesh election commission said on Monday that polls would be held on Jan 21, but the Awami League brushed aside the announcement as a whitewash, saying that electoral reforms and the resignation of President Iajuddin Ahmed must come first.

The Awami League, led by former premier Sheikh Hasina, held a sit-in outside the presidential palace to press for its demands. According to police, 50,000 people turned out at the sit-in.

“Over 50,000 people gathered at four points near the Bangabhavan (presidential palace),” said a police official. “We have closed all the roads leading to the Bangabhaban.”

Other parties that constitute an Awami League-led 14-party alliance, also held separate sit-ins.

The area around Bangabhavan wore a festive look as the parties had made arrangements for cultural programmes.

Agencies add: Awami League spokesman Abdul Jalil said the protests were aimed at forcing the government to reform the election commission and revise the voters list, which he claimed had 14 million fake names.

The opposition parties accuse the election commission of seeking to rig the polls in favour of the outgoing government, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia.

“We cannot accept this schedule. We will sit today and announce an agitation schedule,” said Mr Jalil.

Election commission secretary Abdur Rashid Sarker, however, rejected the criticism.

“We haven’t taken the decision in haste. But we have a huge task in hand and do not have much time,” he said, adding he hoped all political parties would now focus on preparing for the elections.

Police had on Sunday banned all protests and rallies outside the palace.

The opposition alliance has staged a string of recent nationwide transport blockades and protests that have paralysed the country.

The parties say the outgoing BNP-led government appointed party loyalists to key posts in the election commission and the interim government.

The protests led to the government’s choice for head of the caretaker government declining the position. President Iajuddin Ahmed later named himself as the interim government chief.

The chief election commissioner also bowed to violent protests last week and went on three months’ extended leave so the elections could be held without him.

The president on Monday announced the appointment of two additional deputy election commissioners, in line with opposition demands.