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| Bangladesh |
| Bangladesh Poll Panel Chief Quits |
| 2007-01-22 |
| Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner Justice M.A. Aziz stepped down yesterday to avert further political unrest as the election panel issued official notification canceling the polls scheduled for Jan. 22. Aziz, who had been on leave since Nov. 23 amid a pressing demand by the Awami League-led opposition alliance for him to quit, met President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday and tendered his resignation, officials said. Aziz’s exit will pave the way for an overhaul of the election commission, a longstanding demand of opposition parties, for credible polls. Aziz said he was stepping down to help create an environment acceptable to all political parties ahead of the polls. Aziz’s resignation came hours before Fakhruddin Ahmed, the new head of Bangladesh’s caretaker administration, addressed the nation for the first time since assuming office on Jan. 12. The new interim leader pledged to hold elections as soon as possible. “My administration is pledge-bound to hold the new elections within the shortest possible time,” Fakhruddin said. “Our motto is to hold a free, fair and participatory election,” he added. |
| Posted by:Fred |