DHAKA, Jan 21: Bangladesh’s new interim leader pledged to hold elections as soon as possible in his first address to the nation on Sunday.

“My administration is pledge-bound to hold the new elections within the shortest possible time,” Fakhruddin Ahmed said in a televised address to the nation. “Our motto is to hold a free, fair and participatory election.”

Mr Ahmed did not name a date for the elections, which were originally scheduled for Jan 22 but were postponed after months of unrest sparked by the Awami League-led alliance's accusations that election officials were biased and the voter list rigged.

Mr Ahmed said all steps to ensure a free, fair and credible election would be taken. It was his first nationwide speech since taking control of the country 10 days ago amid violent protests that left at least 34 people dead and caused the president to declare a state of emergency.

Mr Ahmed did not say when the state of emergency would be lifted, but vowed that his administration would uphold press freedom and human rights.

Bangladesh has been crippled by a political stalemate since October when Prime Minister Khaleda Zia stepped down at the end of her five-year term and handed over power to an interim government to steer the country through national elections.

On Sunday the country's Chief Election Commissioner, M.A. Aziz, said he was resigning to make it easier for the interim government to prepare itself for holding free and fair national elections. “I feel that if I continue in the post ... this may give certain political parties the opportunity to create ... new obstacles in the democratic process of holding (the) national elections,” a statement quoted Aziz as saying.

Also on Sunday, M.A. Matin, an adviser to the interim government, said it wants to reorganise the Election Commission as soon as possible. He did not elaborate, but the AL-led alliance has demanded the appointment of neutral commissioners and called for it to be more independent financially.—AP