Dhaka - Bangladesh's election authorities Sunday announced fresh election schedules, setting new voting dates for December 29 parliamentary polls and local government upazila elections on January 22, 2009.
Announcing the fresh timetable for the polls after a series of hectic parleys with major political camps, Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said he hoped that the new election dates will be acceptable to all the political parties.
"I hope the parties will begin their electioneering in a festive mood from tomorrow," Huda told a crowded press conference at his office in the evening.
Previously, the dates had been December 18 for the parliamentary polls and December 28 for the upazila elections.