Five top poll officials in Bangladesh resigned on Wednesday to pave the way for impartial and credible general elections under a re-constituted Election Commission.
DHAKA: Five top poll officials in Bangladesh resigned on Wednesday to pave the way for impartial and credible general elections under a re-constituted Election Commission.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman and his four deputies tendered their resignation after meeting President Iajuddin Ahmed at the Bangabhaban Presidential Palace, officials said.
The resignations came amid mounting pressure from the country's interim government led by chief advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed who wanted the election officials to quit voluntarily.
"They met the President and offered their resignation letters," a Bangabhaban official said.
The interim government said the re-constitution of the Election Commission was its top priority to pave the way for fresh elections.
Their resignations came nearly four weeks after Chief Election Commissioner M A Aziz, who was on a three-month leave, offered his resignation, which was accepted.
Aziz and another EC member SM Zakaria went on a long leave at the request of President Ahmed amidst protracted street campaigns by Sheikh Hasina Wajed's Awami League-led 18-party alliance, demanding the removal of controversial election commission members.
The alliance also demanded the publication of a flawless electoral roll scrapping the one rigged in favour of past Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led four-party combine.
The EC had formally cancelled the January 22 elections in line with a decision of the interim government under Fakhruddin Ahmed, installed after Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down as the chief advisor proclaiming a state of emergency on January 11.
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