This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6252397.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
State of emergency in Bangladesh Bangladesh poll delay emergency
(about 1 hour later)
Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed has stepped down as interim leader amid a crisis over elections due this month. Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed has stepped down as interim leader and postponed elections due this month.
State media reported his departure just hours after he had announced a state of emergency and a curfew in the country.State media reported his departure just hours after he had announced a state of emergency and a curfew in the country.
Nine of 10 members of Mr Ahmed's caretaker administration are also reported to have resigned. Mr Ahmed then went on television to say that the 22 January vote was being put back. "It's not possible to hold the elections on schedule," he said.
A major alliance of parties is boycotting the election because it says it is being rigged. Weeks of violence have left more than 40 people dead. A major political alliance says the vote is being rigged. Weeks of violence have left more than 40 people dead.
Mr Ahmed will stay on in his largely ceremonial post of president. A late night-early morning curfew (2300-0500 local time) is in force. 'Fair vote'
Media curbs Mr Ahmed said he would stay on in his largely ceremonial post of president. Nine of 10 members of his caretaker administration are also reported to have resigned.
Reports say news broadcasting by private television channels has been suspended and newspapers have been issued with a warning not to criticise the government or its policies. We need a flawless voter list to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible President Iajuddin Ahmed
The president said one of his advisers, Fazlul Haque, would serve as head of the caretaker government until he had named a replacement.
"I will, in a couple of days, appoint a new interim leader to hold an election in which all parties will be able to participate," he told the nation.
Mr Ahmed did not specify a new general election date, but made clear there should be key changes before the vote is held.
"We need a flawless voter list to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible."
The Awami League party and its allies announced last week they were boycotting the vote because they said it was not going to be fair.
Amending the electoral register was a central demand, as was Mr Ahmed's removal as chief adviser to the caretaker government.
The alliance said the announcement was a "victory for the people".
It has led mass demonstrations which have at times brought the country to a standstill in recent months. There have been violent clashes between police and supporters of rival political groupings.
Curfew
A late night-early morning curfew (2300-0500 local time) was announced by state media earlier on Thursday.
Protesters say planned elections will not be fair
State television said the curfew affected more than 60 cities and towns across Bangladesh. as well as the capital, Dhaka.State television said the curfew affected more than 60 cities and towns across Bangladesh. as well as the capital, Dhaka.
The political crisis... has severely jeopardised the legitimacy of the electoral process UN statement Reports say news broadcasting by private television channels has been suspended and newspapers have been issued with a warning not to criticise the government or its policies.
"The president has declared a state of emergency and a curfew has been imposed daily from 11pm to 5am," it reported. Hours earlier, the UN and the EU said they were suspending assistance for the election, sending a strong signal that the vote should be postponed.
"The president will address the nation over television and radio tonight." The Awami League has long alleged electoral bias in favour of its bitter rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which left office in October. The BNP rejected the allegations of bias and had said it would take part in the vote.
Hours earlier, the UN and the EU said they were suspending assistance for the 22 January general election. The state of emergency raised concern in a country which has experienced periods of military rule and coup attempts since independence from Pakistan in 1971.
A UN statement said: "The political crisis... has severely jeopardised the legitimacy of the electoral process." Under the Bangladesh constitution the caretaker government must organise elections within 90 days - Thursday's developments take the country into uncertain and uncharted territory.
The EU said conditions for a credible vote did not exist and its observers would leave Bangladesh by Sunday night.
'Bias'
The BBC's John Sudworth in the capital, Dhaka, says the announcements by the UN and EU are being seen as a strong signal from the international community to the caretaker government that the poll should be postponed.
Our correspondent says that with polls now less than two weeks away the election process is in tatters and there is no sign of compromise.
The alliance led by the Awami League is refusing to take part, claiming the electoral register is incomplete, inaccurate and biased in favour of its bitter rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which left office in October.
But the caretaker government insists the constitution does not allow it to suspend the election.
The BNP rejects the allegations of bias and says it and its allies will take part in the vote.