Government says Bangladesh will hold elections Jan. 5 despite opposition boycott threat
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Bangladesh's government has announced parliamentary elections on Jan. 5 despite a boycott threat by opposition parties.
The main opposition coalition has vowed to hold nationwide protests unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns and transfers power to a non-partisan caretaker administration to oversee the elections. Hasina has rejected the demand.
Instead, Hasina earlier this month formed what she calls an all-party election-time government to oversee the polls. Her new 29-member Cabinet includes members of her Awami League party and five other parties, all of them her allies.
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Chief Election Commissioner announced the election date Monday, saying the commission will do everything possible to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.