Bangladesh lifts ban on indoor political meetings

BANGLADESH: Bangladesh's military-backed government 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 September 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.

All kinds of political activities, protests and rallies have been banned and the freedom of speech curtailed as part of the emergency rule.

The latest move comes with the leaders of the two main parties, both former prime ministers who ruled the country for 16 years until October last year, both under arrest in corruption cases.

The army-backed government says it plans to end the country's notorious corruption before new elections are held, and has launched a massive anti-graft crackdown, arresting nearly 160 high-profile political leaders.

Fast-tracks court set up by the emergency government to try corrupt leaders have so far sentenced more than a dozen former ministers, lawmakers and their families between five and 32 years in jail.

Ahmed said billions of dollars had been looted in the past by a "section of" corrupt leaders.

He said the government had strengthened the anti-corruption commission, and had so far recovered 8.20 billion taka (120 million dollars).

The latest announcement came after the country's leading entrepreneurs last week complained that the anti-graft fight has led to a climate of fear in the country, resulting in a dip in business confidence..

Dhaka, Monday, AFP.