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/6254403.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Curfew ends in Bangladesh capital Troops enforce Bangladesh order
(about 4 hours later)
An overnight curfew in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, imposed under a national state of emergency, has ended. Soldiers are enforcing a state of emergency in Bangladesh, a day after it was imposed by the president.
President Iajuddin Ahmed applied the measures and quit as interim leader in a surprise announcement on Thursday. President Iajuddin Ahmed also quit as interim leader and postponed a planned 22 January vote, saying it was "not possible" to hold it on schedule.
He also postponed a planned 22 January vote, saying it was "not possible to hold the elections on schedule". Former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed is set to take over as the head of a new interim government.
The move follows weeks of violent protests amid claims by a political alliance, led by the Awami League party, that the vote is being rigged. The moves follow months of violent protests amid claims by a political alliance that the vote is being rigged.
Across the country the violence has left more than 40 people dead.Across the country the violence has left more than 40 people dead.
Following the lifting of the overnight curfew early on Friday morning, the streets of Dhaka are again full of traffic, correspondents say. Following the lifting of an overnight curfew early on Friday morning, the streets of Dhaka are again full of traffic, correspondents say.
We need a flawless voter list to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible President Iajuddin Ahmed href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6253889.stm" class="">Analysis: Will democracy win out? Concerns
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. The state of emergency has raised concerns in a country which has experienced periods of military rule and coup attempts since independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The measures suspended some basic rights under the constitution, including freedom of movement, assembly and speech. Under the emergency, some basic rights under the constitution, including freedom of movement, assembly and speech, are suspended.
And although the newspapers contain pictures of Mr Ahmed's late-night television address announcing the state of emergency, private media organisations have already been told to stop broadcasting news and current affairs programmes and newspapers warned not to criticise the government.And although the newspapers contain pictures of Mr Ahmed's late-night television address announcing the state of emergency, private media organisations have already been told to stop broadcasting news and current affairs programmes and newspapers warned not to criticise the government.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says nobody knows how long the state of emergency will remain.The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says nobody knows how long the state of emergency will remain.
We need a flawless voter list to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible President Iajuddin Ahmed Analysis: Will democracy win out?
Under the Bangladesh constitution the caretaker government must organise elections within 90 days - Thursday's developments take the country into uncertain and uncharted territory.Under the Bangladesh constitution the caretaker government must organise elections within 90 days - Thursday's developments take the country into uncertain and uncharted territory.
Former governor of the Bangladesh central bank, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, who is due to take over as the new interim leader, will appoint a new cabinet.
Many Bangladeshis said the president's decision could help end the political impasse in the country.
"We welcome the president's decision, but on condition," SM Fazlul Hoque, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association told the Associated Press.
"Our stand is for democracy, we want the decision to help restore normalcy for a free and fair election in which all political camps can take part."
Dhaka resident Mahmudul Islam Apu said he was happy with the calm in the city after the imposition of emergency.
"Today, after a long time, I can walk freely and without tension in the city. Calm has come everywhere," the student told the AFP news agency.
'Victory for people''Victory for people'
The Awami League party has described the decision to postpone the elections as a "victory for the people".The Awami League party has described the decision to postpone the elections as a "victory for the people".
"By admitting that the voter list had errors, and quitting as head of the interim government, he [the president] has in fact accepted our main demands," opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil told the AFP news agency."By admitting that the voter list had errors, and quitting as head of the interim government, he [the president] has in fact accepted our main demands," opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil told the AFP news agency.
There have been weeks of violent protests over the voteAmending the electoral register was a central demand, as was Mr Ahmed's removal as chief adviser to the caretaker government.There have been weeks of violent protests over the voteAmending the electoral register was a central demand, as was Mr Ahmed's removal as chief adviser to the caretaker government.
There as no immediate reaction from the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which stepped down as the ruling party in October to pave the way for the caretaker government.There as no immediate reaction from the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which stepped down as the ruling party in October to pave the way for the caretaker government.
Mr Ahmed said on Thursday that 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.Mr Ahmed said on Thursday that 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.
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.
Change neededChange needed
Mr Ahmed did not specify a new general election date, but made clear there should be key changes before the vote is held.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.""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.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.
The party 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.The party 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.
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. The Awami League has long alleged electoral bias in favour of its bitter rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The BNP rejected the allegations of bias and had said it would take part in the vote.