Dhaka  - Authorities in Bangladesh launched Friday a three- year-long celebration of 400 years of Dhaka, historically recognised as the country's capital since 1608, calling for measures to make the life in the crowded city of 12 million more liveable.

"A meaningful scheme is urgently needed ... as rapid population growth and unplanned urbanisation have hampered the pace and liveliness of our beloved city," the chief of the military-backed government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, said inaugurating the celebration programme at the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad [national parliament] premises.

Fakhruddin released four pigeons and 400 paper balloons into the sky and inaugurated four postage stamps marking the occasion.

Dhaka - Bangladesh on Thursday condemned the overnight terrorist attacks in India's financial capital of Mumbai that left 101 people dead and 287 injured.

"I condemn it as a mindless act of terror," Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, foreign affairs adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, said in a statement that denounced the carnage in the neighbouring country. "I wish to underscore that terror can serve no purpose."

Dhaka - Bangladesh's military-backed government Tuesday said it would completely lift the state of emergency ahead of the stalled parliamentary polls deferred to December 29.

"No elections will be held under emergency. The government will lift the state of emergency at a reasonable time," Hossain Zilliur Rahman, a key adviser to the interim administration, told reporters after a meeting of the panel of advisers negotiating political parties for a credible election.

Army Chief Moeen U Ahmed, also announced that he would request the government to end nearly two years of emergency rule ahead of the general elections.

Dhaka - A Bangladeshi court Monday asked the government to justify its state of emergency that allows fundamental civil rights to be suspended.

A High Court panel is reviewing a citizens' petition seeking a constitutional ruling on the emergency powers, court officials said.

Civil and political rights in Bangladesh have been suspended since a state of emergency was promulgated in January 2007 in the wake of political turmoil centring on the country's ninth parliamentary elections.

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.

Dhaka - Bangladesh will announce a fresh general election date on Sunday to replace the December 18 poll which has been cancelled, a top election official said Saturday.

"There will be no voting on December 18. We will announce a fresh schedule for the general elections tomorrow," Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters.

He was speaking after a meeting with the leaders of the Awami League-led alliance at his office. The alliance leaders said they would give their reaction later.