DHAKA: Bangladesh’s army-backed interim government has offered talks with a leading political party aimed at resolving an impasse over elections meant to restore democracy in the country, leaders and officials said on Wednesday.

The proposal was made to Motia Chowdhury, a senior figure in the Awami League party of detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by a government official of ministerial rank on Tuesday.

“We will discuss the offer in the highest level of the party later on Wednesday,” Motia, a former minister, said.

Political parties have demanded the lifting of a state of emergency to allow then to resume full political activity and want an election to be held by July.

But the government reiterated that the election would be held by the end of this year, according to its “election roadmap”.

Motia said she believed that the interim government would also contact other parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, with the offer of talks.

“We are always in favour of talks,” she said. “We have participated in talks with the Election Commission recently and put our suggestions.”

Officials said the government wanted to narrow the distance with political parties through discussion.

Bitter rivals Khaleda and Hasina, who alternated in power for 15 years until October 2006, are both currently being held on corruption charges amid a crackdown on graft.

A court formally indicted Hasina on an extortion charge last Sunday and the prosecution will resume on Thursday.

Both of the former prime ministers deny the charges. But lawyers say both are likely to be barred from contesting polls if convicted.

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since January last year, when the army-backed interim government took charge following months of political violence.

It banned political activities, rallies and protests, cancelled an election planned for Jan 22, 2007, and launched a massive crackdown on corruption aimed at cleaning up politics before parliamentary elections.

More than 170 leading politicians, including Khaleda’s two sons and dozens of ex-ministers, have been detained.

—Reuters