Dhaka - The United Nations wants Bangladesh hold a credible parliamentary election next month for a peaceful transition to democracy, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday.

"I have expressed my sincere wish that this parliamentary election will be held in a more fair and objective and credible way that Bangladesh can have very smooth and peaceful transition to democracy," the UN chief told reporters after a meeting with Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.

He hoped that Dhaka's leadership in the government and political parties will cooperate in the matter.

Dhaka - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Dhaka Saturday to discuss topics including politics, the economy and social affairs ahead of Bangladesh's December general elections.

Receiving the UN chief at Dhaka's Zia International Airport, Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said that Ban's visit was significant for both the UN and Bangladesh, especially given the upcoming elections.

The elections are considered pivotal, as it will give the country the chance to return to democracy after two years of rule by an unelected, military-backed interim government.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's military-backed government on Saturday dismissed Indian media reports alleging involvement of a Bangladesh-based group in the recent serial blasts in north- east India that left 77 people killed.

"The allegation is totally baseless and, as in the past, have no evidence to back them up," Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement trashing the Indian claims.

Indian agencies have alleged that Bangladesh-based banned Islamist organisations are involved in the blasts.

An Indian opposition political leader, L K Advani also pointed a finger to Bangladesh for the violence that injured more than 300 others asking Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for action against the perpetrators of the Thursday's carnage.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Thursday denied bail in a graft case to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, now paroled for medical treatment abroad.

A five-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin passed the order during a hearing into the case filed by a businessman last year.

Dhaka  - Cyclone Rashmi killed at least 11 people in Bangladesh when it made landfall in the country's south-western region, media reports said Tuesday.

The tropical cyclone with wind speeds between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour ripped through nine coastal districts, an official at the disaster management ministry said.

District administrations in the coastal areas confirmed at least 11 deaths and reported that some fishermen remained missing in the Bay of Bengal.

Standing crops were affected in low-lying areas of coastal districts inundated by water surging up to two metres higher than normal tides, The Daily Star reported, quoting officials at the Agriculture Extension Division.

Dhaka, Oct 27: A number of medieval structures, located in Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh, are in danger of decaying through relentless neglect by officials.

According to a report in The Daily Star, the Department of Archaeology does not have the funds or manpower necessary to conserve and carry out necessary restorations of the edifices that are gradually wearing away.

These structures, which were built between 1494 and 1519 AD, include Sona Masjid (mosque), Tahkhana, Kotwali Darwaza (main gate to the ancient capital) and many more.

There are a few others mosques in the area and some are decked with exquisite terracotta plaques, though most have lost their gleaming glory.