 | No Bangladesh polls 'for 18 months'
05 April, 2007
ATM Shamsul Huda said the delay was needed to allow time to prepare new voting lists and new electoral laws.
The current army-backed interim government postponed elections, which were due in January, after months of street protests and violence.
The US has called for a clear timetable on the restoration of democracy.
At present all political activity is banned. Dozens of senior politicians and associates have been arrested on corruption charges.
The government has vowed not to hold new elections until it has cleared up corruption.
Mr Huda made his comments to journalists in the capital, Dhaka.
His colleague, Shakhwat Hossain gave more details about the decision.
"It is a huge task and we want to do it the best way possible. The United Nations is helping us with consultants and financing of the huge project," he said, the AFP news agency reports.
"We are taking time because we don't want to hold farcical elections."
The commission is also asking the government to lift its ban on indoor political meetings.
On Tuesday US ambassador Patricia Butenis said the people of Bangladesh needed to know when they would next be able to vote.
Release link:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6529517.stm
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