Tight security vigil in Bangladesh ahead of poll schedule declaration

Islami Andolan Bangladesh party workers march to the EC office. Pic/AP

Bangladeshi authorities on Wednesday enforced a tight security vigil in the capital and other major cities after the Election Commission (EC) said it will announce the schedule for the next general elections later in the day amid continued unrest over the polls.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal will announce the full schedule of the 12th parliamentary elections at 7 pm, EC secretary Jahangir Alam said. Asked if the EC thought the polls atmosphere was favourable, he said: "The required atmosphere exists."

The development came amid mounting political tensions as the Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its far-right allies waged a street campaign demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to allow a non-party interim government to conduct the general elections.

The ruling Awami League rejected the demand, saying elections would be held under Hasina, who also rejected proposals for dialogue with the Opposition, calling BNP a terrorist group.

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