By DPA
Dhaka : The military-backed interim government in Bangladesh Sunday lifted the ban on indoor political meetings as a first step towards restoring democracy in the country.
The withdrawal of restrictions on holding political meetings indoors was announced by the head of the interim government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, in a nationwide televised address.
The ban was imposed under a state of emergency declared by President Iajuddin Ahmad in January amid bloody political unrest.
The escalating violence was triggered by a standoff between the country’s two main political parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party.
The interim government, which came to office in the wake of the political turmoil, vowed to hold a general election by December 2008 after lifting all prohibitions on open political activities.