Bangladeshi police ban demonstrations in capital on Sunday

Jan 28, 2012, 13:55 GMT

Dhaka - Bangladeshi police have banned demonstrations in the capital Dhaka on Sunday, when the ruling and opposition parties have planned rallies.

The 18-hour ban is to begin at 6 am (0000 GMT) Sunday, Dhaka's police chief Benazir Ahmed told reporters.

'The ban has been imposed fearing deterioration of law and order as both the political parties have announced similar programmes on the day,' Ahmed said Saturday.

Former premier Khaleda Zia, of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is scheduled to lead a rally in Dhaka to mobilize support for the restoration of a non-party caretaker administration, which was constitutionally mandated to oversee general elections, but was scrapped last year by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed's government.

The provision was introduced in 1996 and imposed a non-party caretaker system that has overseen three national elections. Wazed has said her government would strengthen the Election Commission to enable the holding of credible elections.

The next general elections are scheduled for 2014.

Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League has called a public meeting in central Dhaka Sunday to protest what it calls the opposition's conspiracy to unseat the government.