B'desh general elections expected to be held between Dec 21 to 24

Colombo, Aug 1 (UNI) The much awaited general elections in Bangladesh are expected to be held between December 21 to 24.

This was conveyed by Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during a meeting on the fringes of the SAARC summit, here last night.

Mr Chowdhury said the preparations for the elections are in full swing and the authorities have so far issued 80.5 million biometric identity cards to its voters.

The two leaders also discussed whole range of bilateral issues.

The Interim government imposed emergency in Bangladesh after the Awami League accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of trying to rig the elections.

The External Affairs Minister also met Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Rohitha Bogollagama and Finance Minister of Nepal Ram Sharan Mahat. He also called on Nepalese Prime Minister G P Koirala.

UNI SMA/RB LPB HT2155