In Bangladesh, President Abdul Hamid is scheduled to administer the oath of office to new Ministers at Bangababban, as the formation of an all-party interim Cabinet to oversee the polls was announced after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met the President last night. Official sources say that 4 out of 8 parties represented in Parliament, will be included in the new Cabinet. Opposition BNP has ruled out joining the new dispensation, and renewed the demand for a non-partisan caretaker government. As per the Constitution, elections must be completed within the last 90 days of the Parliament which falls before January 24, 2014. The 15th Constitutional Amendment in 2011 has scrapped away the mechanism of caretaker government for conducting the elections. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had proposed an all-party government October 18th.

Ahead of the swearing-in of the all-party interim cabinet this evening, former President HM Ershad, and Chairman of Jatiya Party has announced the severing of links with Awami-League led Grand Alliance and the formation of a new Alliance to contest the polls. At a press conference in Dhaka this morning, the former President called for independence from the two feuding parties – the ruling Awami League and Opposition BNP.

Official sources say that 7 members of Jatiya party will be included in the cabinet. Besides Awami League, two other components of the Grand Alliance, the Workers Party and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Party will be included in the interim cabinet. Meanwhile Opposition BNP has ruled out joining the new dispensation.

Acting BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir talking to reporters urged for a dialogue initiative on the form of the polls-time administration, and renewed the demand for a non- partisan caretaker government As per the Constitution elections have to be completed within the last 90 days of the Parliament which falls before 24th January, 2014. The 15th Constitutional amendment in 2011 has scrapped the mechanism of caretaker government to oversee the polls.