Bangladesh opposition calls off blockade

BANGLADESH: Bangladesh's main opposition Thursday called off a four-day transport blockade after the interim government bowed to pressure to replace an election chief accused of seeking to rig January elections.

"We have suspended our blockade but our movement will continue for free and fair elections. We want reconstitution of the election commission and the revision of the existing voters' list, which has 14 million fake voters," Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed told reporters.

Sheikh Hasina said mass protests would be held outside the presidential palace and the election commission next Wednesday and Thursday.

Bangladesh has been paralysed by the nationwide transport blockade since Monday.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, who heads the country's interim government, announced late Wednesday that chief election commissioner M.A. Aziz would take three months' leave, which would coincide with the national polls.

The caretaker government Thursday named former judge Mahfuzur Rahman, one of Aziz's three deputies, as the acting chief election commissioner. The Awami League had earlier demanded that all three deputies be replaced along with Aziz.

Before the calling off of the blockade, senior Awami League leader Obaidul Qader criticised the president for not also removing Aziz's deputies, one of whom has now been appointed in his place.

"The president has just sent Aziz on leave. But he has not yet removed all the controversial (deputy) election commissioners," he said.

DHAKA, Friday, AFP