B'desh govt reaffirms plan to hold free election

DHAKA, May 7 (Reuters) The head of Bangladesh's army-backed interim government has reaffirmed plans to hold elections before the end of next year and pledged freedom for the media to ensure a free flow of information.

Fakhruddin Ahmed also sought the media's cooperation in government efforts for a free, fair and credible vote.

Talking to senior media officials and editors late yesterday, the former central bank governor, who took over as the caretaker chief in January, said the government would not retreat from plans to hold elections within the stipulated time.

The assurances came a day before former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was due to fly back to Dhaka from a holiday in the United States, after being briefly blocked from returning.

Fakhruddin had earlier said he hoped to be able to hold parliamentary elections before end-2008 after completing electoral reforms and with a new voters' roll incorporating photographic identification.

The Election Commission said making a new voters' list could take up to 18 months, suggesting a similar election timeframe as given by Fakhruddin, who said yesterday preparations for holding the polls and carrying out necessary reforms would run together.

''The government does not intend to make just one election fair and impartial but wants to ensure that every future election would reflect the people's will,'' he said.

''I reiterate the commitment of my government to press freedom and free flow of information,'' the English daily New Age quoted Fakhruddin as also telling the media group yesterday.

Ex-prime minister Hasina could be a major player in the next vote now that she is being permitted to return.

British Airways had refused to carry her to Dhaka because of a government ban imposed on April 18. That was lifted six days later under intense local and international pressure.

She left Heathrow airport yesterday by an Etihad airlines flight to Dubai, where she would change plane to arrive in Dhaka this afternoon, officials of her Awami League said.

EMERGENCY RULE They said only a handful of senior leaders of the party would receive Hasina at the airport, because of restrictions under the country's state of emergency.

Bangladesh has been under emergency rule since January 11 which banned all political activities and rallies. Airport security has been tightened for Hasina's return, officials said.

Hasina said before leaving London she did not expect the interim government to do anything to her that could provoke protests or political consequences.

She faces charges of extortion and abetting deaths during street fighting between activists of the Awami League and its rivals, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by another former prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia.

Hasina denied the charges, and said she would fight the ''false and motivated'' allegations legally.

Khaleda, who ended a five-year term in October, may also face personal disgrace in a government crackdown on corruption.

Security forces have detained more than 160 key political figures including Khaleda's elder son and political heir apparent Tareque Rahman, and put him in jail pending trial.

The government denied media reports it had pressed Khaleda to go into exile while trying to keep Hasina out of the country.

Despite the denial, Khaleda's political adviser Hannan Shah, a retired army brigadier-general, told reporters late yesterday that she was still confined at her home.

''No one is being allowed to meet Khaleda Zia,'' Hannan said.

A long-standing dispute between Hasina and Khaleda spilled into street battles in January, the rationale for imposing the state of emergency and cancelling elections planned for January 22.

Most Bangladeshis warmly lauded the moves as a breather from years of chaotic and violent politics -- which some analysts blame on the two former prime ministers -- but there has been concern lately over the long delay in holding the polls.

Reuters SG DB1342