Dhaka, December 14:

Bangladesh’s interim government today held talks with political parties to end the crisis over next month’s polls as protesters demanded electoral reforms. “Riot police stopped supporters of a 14-party alliance from marching on election offices forcing the protesters

to stage rallies behind barricades,” the ATN Bangla television network said. But there were no immediate reports of violence or arrests.

The protesters have demanded changes in the Election Commission, including the removal of two commissioners who they say favour former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

“The alliance has said they will come to the polls if the proposed changes are made,” government adviser Shafiqul Huq Chowdhury said, after a meeting with the alliance yesterday. He said the government was hopeful that it can resolve the issues “in two or three days”. The alliance, led by ex-PM Sheikh Hasina, also wants the election date, January 23, to be postponed.

Advisers were also expected to hold talks with the alliance’s main rivals, a four-party coalition led by Zia which wants the commissioners and the poll date unchanged.

The Election Commission has said the poll date, which has been postponed by two days, cannot be further delayed because elections must be held within 90 days after the PM leaves office.

Zia ended her five-year term on October 28 and handed over the power to the interim government to oversee the elections, as the Constitution stipulates. Zia’s coalition has accused the alliance of coming up with new demands to “spoil the atmosphere for holding elections”. The government earlier sent Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz on leave and the Election Commission changed the poll date and started revising a faulty voter-list after the alliance staged a series of street protests and transport blockades that left more than 30 dead and scores injured.

“The European Union plans to send about 160 observers to monitor the polls,” Election Commission official Abdur Rashid Sarker, said today. More than 400 international observers, including about 70 from the United States, are expected to arrive to monitor the elections, he added.

Iajuddin Ahmed, the titular president during Zia’s tenure, stepped in to head the interim government after a previous candidate declined the post.

He has since been accused of running the country with instructions from Zia. Tension increased, since Ahmed on Saturday deployed 17,000 soldiers in Bangladesh to maintain law and order. Adviser Chowdhury said, “The troops will not be conducting day-to-day anti-crime drives, but will remain on standby to aid the police and paramilitary forces.” The army deployment has provoked concerns in a country with a history of military coups and repression.