Bangladesh names new election chief, deputy

DHAKA: Bangladesh appointed A.T.M. Shamsul Huda, a former top bureaucrat, on Sunday as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), state television said.   

The former finance secretary replaced M.A. Aziz, who resigned last month following controversy over his alleged bias towards the most recent prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia.   

Last Wednesday, Aziz's five deputies also stepped down, bowing to similar charges by Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda's predecessor and chief of the Awami League.   

Late on Sunday, state television also said another former bureaucrat Sohul Hossain was appointed Huda's deputy.  

Bangladesh is being run by an interim government headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, charged with holding a free and fair election as soon as possible.   

An election planned for Jan. 22 was postponed when violence broke out across the country after Khaleda ended her five-year term in October and handed power to the interim authority.   

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since Jan. 12.   

Law and information adviser to the interim government, Mainul Husein, told reporters on Saturday the new CEC would be assisted by two deputies. Officials on Sunday said the new commissioners would take oath of office after all three had been appointed.