Bangladesh lifts emergency rule after almost two years

Dhaka: Bangladesh's military-backed government said on Tuesday it will end nearly two years of emergency rule and restore civil liberties before this month's national elections.

President Iajuddin Ahmed has already signed an order lifting the emergency he declared in January last year to quell weeks of street violence over election reform that left more than 30 people dead, a Home Ministry statement said.

The order is effective beginning Wednesday and will give candidates the freedom to conduct campaigning for the Decembber 29 parliamentary elections, the statement said.

Political parties have been demanding an end to emergency rule so they can campaign without restrictions.

"We welcome this move," said Suranjit Sengupta, a leader of Bangladesh Awami League, a key party in the election race. "This will help make the voting free and fair."

The vote is seen as crucial to restore democracy in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which has a history of military rule and political unrest.