Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency Thursday for the first time in 30 years and postponed indefinitely a parliamentary election scheduled for January 22 following violent protests by a key political alliance.
"We are urging all political forces in the country at this crucial moment in its development to display political wisdom and openness to compromise in the interest of holding free and democratic elections within the bounds of the existing Constitution," the ministry said.
It said only a democratic election would be recognized by both the Bangladeshi people and the international community.
The ministry said Bangladesh is on the verge of a crisis that could not only thwart the upcoming parliamentary election and further worsen the socio-economic situation of the nation of 150 million, but could also lead to a spike in violence, extremism and terrorism.
Up to 70 people have been killed in the recent violence.
