The U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh is urging the country's interim leaders to set a new timetable for elections that were originally scheduled for January this year.
Patricia Butenis made the call Tuesday in a meeting with Bangladesh's chief election commissioner, A.T.M. Shamsul Huda in Dhaka. She said the Bangladeshi people want to know when a new election is likely to be held.
The interim government has said it will not hold new elections until it cleans up widespread corruption in Bangladesh's political system. More than 100 top politicians have been arrested on corruption charges, including the son of a former prime minister.
The military-backed government cancelled elections planned for January 22nd and declared a state of emergency after opposition parties, accusing the government of bias, organized a series of nationwide protests.
Bangladeshi army chief Moeen U. Ahmed called Monday for a new brand of democracy in the country, saying the current system is too corrupt.