Dhaka, - Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed returned home Thursday, saying she wants to rescue her people from hardship and contest the December parliamentary elections.

Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters gave a grand reception to Hasina, the head of Bangladesh's Awami League party, on her return after five months of medical treatment abroad.

The former premier said on her arrival from Britain that her people were in hardship, and "only an elected government can rescue the nation from the crisis"

Dhaka- Dhaka on Wednesday explained to Beijing the reasons for the current tension in the Bay of Bengal over Myanmar's gas exploration in disputed maritime territory between the two neighbouring countries.

"I have explained our peaceful intentions to our Chinese friend, and expressed our hope that Myanmar dismantles the installations on the disputed waters," Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's major political parties have received certificates from the Election Commission to contest the upcoming general elections scheduled for December 18, election officials and political leaders said Wednesday.

Dhaka - Authorities in Bangladesh on Monday announced further relaxation of a state of emergency to allow electioneering for parliamentary and local polls.

The government also decided to withdraw troops from the field, nearly 22 months after they were deployed as part of a declaration of a state of emergency, an adviser to the military-backed interim administration told reporters.

Dhaka - A high-level Bangladesh delegation is scheduled to fly to Myanmar Wednesday to hold talks aimed at resolving a dispute over oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal, a top foreign ministry official said Monday.

Bangladesh's foreign secretary Md. Touhid Hossain will lead the delegation at the dialogue with his Myanmar counterpart and other high ranking officials to "defuse the situation" over the exploration, the official said.

Dhaka - United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said Sunday Bangladesh's military leadership had assured him it would not interfere in politics and the December election will be free and fair.

"I was assured by the military leadership that they will ensure this forthcoming election will be fair, credible and free. They will not interfere in any political process," Ban told reporters in Dhaka.