Dhaka - Tens of thousands of people thronged to the National Mausoleum to pay tribute to Bangladesh's liberation war heroes on Tuesday, while activists called for the country's war criminals of 1971 to be brought to justice.

Celebrating the nation's 38th Victory Day, the activists also urged voters to refrain from voting for war criminals, some of whom have become politicians and are running for national elections on December 29.

The Bangladesh Sector Commander Forum - a group of war veterans lobbying the government to prosecute those who committed crimes against humanity during the war

Dhaka - Former Bangladeshi premier Khaleda Zia unveiled on Saturday her party's platform for the upcoming national elections, to be held on December 29, vowing to turn parliament into an effective centre of politics and to bring to an end to the culture of boycotting parliament by opposition lawmakers.

"We will turn parliament into a centre of all political activities if we are given the chance again to serve the nation. We will take every step needed to make it effective and meaningful," Zia, head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, told a crowded press conference.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, head of the Awami League party, Friday unveiled a "charter for change" to return the South Asian nation to democracy, ending two years of emergency rule.

"The country is now passing through a deep crisis. Our commitment is to build Bangladesh as a modern democracy, free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy," the party chief said, announcing the party's platform for the December 29 general elections.

Dhaka- Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed visited a key religious shrine Thursday to formally begin her electioneering for the December 29 polls that will return the country to democratic rule, ending two years of military-backed emergency rule.

Wajed, who drove to the shrine of Shah Jalal in Sylhet, 250 kilometres north-east of Dhaka, stayed a few minutes at the holy place to offer prayers for the welfare of the nation.

Dhaka - The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its right-wing allies welcomed the decision by the military-backed government to lift the state of emergency on December 17 ahead of the upcoming general elections, media reports said Thursday.

"We hope now the people will participate in the upcoming election in a joyful mood," Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the party's secretary-general, told a private television channel after a lengthy meeting of the leaders of the four-party movement led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

A panel of advisers to the interim administration announced late Wednesday the state of emergency would be lifted from December 17.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh's interim government Saturday launched its tourism brand name "Rupomoy Bangladesh" (Beautiful Bangladesh) in a bid to attract tourists from home and abroad.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed inaugurated the country's branding slogan and logo - a rising sun over blue sea - at a ceremony organised by the civil aviation and tourism ministry.

Fakhruddin highlighted the need for an investment-friendly climate to achieve the country's branding aims to attract tourists and foreign investments.