DHAKA, Sept 9: Bangladesh’s military-backed government on Sunday lifted a ban on indoor political meetings ahead of crucial talks between the country’s election commission and parties on voting reforms.

Fakhruddin Ahmed, head of the emergency government that came to power in January, made the announcement on state-run and private television and radio stations.

“The talks with the political parties will begin on Sept 12 and continue until November,” Ahmed said. “In this context, I am announcing that the government will lift the ban on indoor politics from tomorrow (Monday) to create a smooth environment for the talks,” he said.

The election commission said earlier it would hold the crucial electoral reform talks and insisted that the ban on indoor politics should go to allow the parties to join the talks.

The interim government chief said electoral reforms would only be introduced after talks with the parties, and vowed to try to hold elections before a December 2008 deadline.—AFP