Bangladesh lifts ban on indoor political meetings

DHAKA, Sep 9 (Reuters) Bangladesh is lifting a ban on indoor political activity to let parties prepare for parliamentary elections late next year, the country's army-backed interim government said today.

''The ban on indoor political activity will go from tomorrow (Monday),'' Fakhruddin Ahmed, chief of the interim government said in a televised address to the nation.

The interim administration took charge in January, imposed a state of emergency and cancelled elections planned for Jan. 22 following months of political violence.

The state of emergency included a ban on political activity inside buildings, which will be lifted tomorrow, as well as outside in the open.

Fakhruddin said an election commission would hold discussions with the political parties until the end of November and complete a digital electoral roll with photographic identification by October next year.

Fakhruddin said he sought the cooperation of all to help his interim administration and the election commission hold a free and fair election before end-2008, earlier if possible.

REUTERS PDT RAI2032