B146;desh to allow no-vote option in new poll rules

The new rules come as the country8217;s interim government, which cancelled elections in January last year and then announced emergency rule, embarks on a massive clean-up of local politics and prepares for what it says will be a free and fair vote before the year is out.

The rules were approved by the advisory council cabinet headed by the chief of the Bangladesh8217;s interim authority Fakhruddin Ahmed, a statement from the government8217;s information department said.

The country8217;s leading political parties, with many of their leaders in detention on corruption charges, have threatened to boycott the election.

In previous Bangladesh elections, a myriad of unregistered political parties and candidates have taken part 8212; some merely put up by one party to dilute the vote of a rival.

Elections were routinely marred by widespread cheating including multiple voting, wildly doctored voter rolls, intimidation and bribery.