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BD CEC

resigns

DHAKA: Bangladesh's chief election commissioner, accused by opposition leaders of being partisan in the country's last elections, has resigned, presidential officials said on Sunday.

President Abdur Rahman Biswas has accepted the resignation of Justice A.K.M. Sadeque after he handed in a letter requesting he be allowed to step down on Saturday night, they said.

His resignation comes a week after the dramatic downfall of prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, forced out of office after a long opposition-led campaign of protests and strikes.

The president, in consultation with the country's caretaker ruler ex-chief justice Habur Rahman, is expected to appoint a new chief election commissioner shortly to conduct fresh elections, which must take place before the end of June.

Sadeque, who conducted February's general elections, was heavily criticised by opposition parties for allegedly being partisan towards the former ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), headed by Khaleda Zia.

Officials said on Sunday the new elections were expected to be held in the second half of June. Under Bangladesh's constitution it must be held within 90 days of parliament's dissolution.-Reuter