Bangladesh's largest political party, the Awami League, on Saturday demanded the unconditional release of two former prime ministers and the immediate suspension of a state of emergency.
Former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina, chief of Awami League and Khaleda Zia, of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have for months been detained on graft charges by an army-backed interim government also imposed an emergency.
"The release of the two former prime ministers was imperative to make the upcoming election fair and credible," Zillur Rahman, acting chief of the party told reporters.
Observers say the demand for release of both ex-PMs was an attempt to forge unity among the supporters and activists of the pair, who jointly overthrew former ruler President Hossain Mohammad Ershad in late 1990 with a popular uprising.
"We have also demanded at party's presidium meeting late on Friday that the interim government hold parliamentary election as soon as possible," Zillur said. Both Awami League and BNP have demanded elections by July, but the government and election commission say it will only be held after the completion of electoral reforms and a corruption drive, by the end of the year at the earliest.
The interim government took charge of Bangladesh in January last year, imposed a state of emergency following deadly political violence, cancelled an election planned for January 22, 2007 and banned all political activity.
More than 170 key political figures, including the two former heads of the government, have been detained since the launch of a corruption drive early last year. The prosecution of Hasina for extorting some $440,000 from a businessman has started and she is likely to face other charges as well.
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