The military-backed interim government of Bangladesh is lifting a ban on indoor political meetings ahead of planned talks on voting reforms.
The chief advisor, or head, of the emergency administration, Fakhruddin Ahmed, said in a televised address on Sunday that the government will lift the ban as of Monday.
The announcement comes as Bangladesh's election commission prepares to hold crucial election reform talks with the country's political parties.
Legislative elections were slated for January of this year, but the government canceled the vote and declared a state of emergency. All kinds of political activities, protests and rallies have been banned as a result of the emergency rule.
Mr. Ahmed has said new elections will take place in Bangladesh before the end of 2008.
Our Dhaka Stringer Zahurul Alam , has more to say on the Chief Advisor's announcement .
