Dhaka - Political parties in Bangladesh began last-minute campaigning Friday in limited local polls scheduled for next week after a High Court bench quashed a ruling by the Election Commission curbing their participation in mayoral polls, officials said.

The High Court, however, upheld the August 4 scheduled holding of local polls in four cities and nine small municipalities set earlier by the Election Commission.

A division bench of the High Court called for a rule on the scrapping of the Election Commission embargo restricting campaigning by political parties in an overnight judgement on a public interest litigation suit.

Monday's local elections will be held amidst high security as the polls are being considered a litmus test for the military-backed interim government which has promised to hold a fair and credible general election by the end of the year. (dpa)