Bangladesh abolishes caretaker gov't for elections

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Bangladesh's Parliament has amended the constitution to eliminate a provision that creates a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee general elections.

Opposition lawmakers boycotted Thursday's vote, saying the amendment will allow Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to influence the outcome of the next parliamentary polls due in 2014 and result in vote rigging. Hasina has denied the charge.

The opposition has only 38 seats in the 345-member Parliament, and their boycott was unable to block the amendment.

Previously, prime ministers transferred power at end of their terms to a caretaker administration that oversaw new elections. The provision was introduced in 1996 to prevent vote stealing by incumbents.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.