Elections in emergency-rule Bangladesh have been put on hold indefinitely until we can make sure only the right people are voting reforms to strengthen democracy are carried out, the interim government chief said. Fakhruddin Ahmed, who heads a military-backed caretaker government in place to oversee the ballot, took power last month after disputed polls were cancelled.
“It is not possible to give a specific timeframe for the elections as reforms are still being carried out,” he said speaking in Chittagong on Tuesday night. Ahmed’s new interim government has pledged to carry out a string of reforms aimed at ensuring the elections are credible. “The influence of the 3Ms — money, muscle and misuse of authority — has to be curbed to pave the way for free and fair elections,” he said. Ahmed’s deputy spokesman Sarwar Alam provided the quotes on Wednesday. |