By IANS

Dhaka : Bangladesh's Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Huda has asked the government to relax the state of emergency this year-end in areas where local government elections are planned for next January.

"Our target is to hold a series of elections to local government bodies from January. So, not only the ban on indoor politics, but also the state of emergency will have to be relaxed in the areas where local government elections will be held," Huda told media representatives Sunday.

The government lifted curbs on indoor political activity two weeks ago to facilitate the poll body's meeting with leaders of political parties.

Huda was "brimming with confidence" about successful implementation of the Election Commission's (EC) roadmap for holding the polls to local government bodies and the stalled parliamentary election in end-2008, The Daily Star said Monday.

Huda said the government extended its full support to the Election Commission's activities because the government had been formed "only to hold the elections".

The CEC's remark on the state of emergency, imposed since Jan 11, came amid clamouring by senior leaders of major political parties for lifting of the emergency regime.

The emergency rules suspend outdoor political activities like processions and rallies.