Bangladesh emergency rules to be relaxed in local body election area

Dhaka, Jun 18 (UNI) Bangladesh's military-backed caretaker government today decided to bend some provisions of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) to facilitate a campaign for the municipal and city corporation elections.

Bangladesh Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman made the disclosure at a joint press briefing.

He said the Election Commission was making preparation to hold elections to some of the local-government bodies, where it was overdue.

''The decision is finalised to relax some rules and regulations of the EPR during the election,'' he added.

''The relaxation of the emergency rules, which do not allow outdoor rallies or street campaigns, would take effect immediately after the announcement of the poll schedules,'' he said.

The EPR relaxation will be applicable only to the areas of election, he added.

The state of emergency was imposed by President Iajuddin Ahmed on January 11 last year to quell political violence over an abortive parliamentary election.

The Election Commission would announce poll schedules for four city corporations -- Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet--and some municipalities in a day or two.

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