Dhaka - Legislators elected to Bangladesh parliament were expected to take oath on the weekend as the country inches back to democratic rule, officials said Saturday.

Dhaka - The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia on Friday questioned the neutrality of international elections observers during Monday's polls, in which the party faced an embarrassing defeat.

"Their observations were never intensive; how could they (foreign observers) claim that the polls were free and fair without visiting majority of polling stations?" Khandaker Delwar Hossain, secretary general of the party, told reporters.

Kolkata, Jan 1 : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has congratulated Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League-led alliance on its victory in the elections.

Addressing media persons here last evening, Banerjee termed Hasina''s landslide victory in Bangladesh as a welcome change for democratic politics, and hoped that such trends would also be witnessed in West Bengal.

"As for West Bengal, we want a change for development, change for the people and West Bengal. It should be better for the country," said Banerjee.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's prime minister-elect Sheikh Hasina Wazed said Wednesday she hoped her new cabinet would be sworn in to office within the first week of the New Year.

"I hope the oath taking ceremony will take place within the first week of January after President's invitation to do so," Hasina told reporters after a meeting with President Iajuddin Ahmed at the presidential Bangabhaban palace in the evening.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh's prime minister-elect Sheikh Hasina Wazed Wednesday called upon all political parties to join hands in her fight against poverty, which she called the highest priority for the impoverished South Asian nation.

"Poverty is the number one enemy of the country. We need a united effort to fight the enemy," said the 61-year old leader said in her first press conference since winning a landslide in Monday's polls.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's prime minister-elect Sheikh Hasina Wazed said Wednesday her government would work toward forming a regional task force to fight terrorism in South Asia.

"We will initiate the move to form a South Asian task force to ensure peace combating terrorism," Hasina told a crowded press conference in Dhaka, the first since her Awami League-led alliance won a landslide victory in Monday's elections.

"Progress is impossible without ensuring peace," Hasina said.