EC: Bangladesh polls could be delayed

Bangladesh's general election in early January could be postponed to accommodate opposition parties that are threatening to boycott the polls, the election commission said Wednesday. "If there is consensus among the parties, the election date can be delayed to another date to make sure that all parties can participate in the polls," Election Commissioner Md Shahnawaz told AFP. The election commission had said on Monday night that the election would be held on Jan 5, but the announcement has helped trigger a new bout of political violence in the volatile country. A total of nine people have been killed in clashes between the security forces and opposition supporters in the last few days while the country has also been paralysed by a general strike. The 48-hour shutdown, which began on Tuesday, has led to a complete halt to public transport and widespread closures of shops and government offices. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Islamist allies have said they will not take part in the election unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns and makes way for a neutral caretaker government which will oversee the contest.