Dhaka, June 3 -- Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called for the next general election to be held by April next year, while urging the authorities to conduct local government elections beforehand.

Speaking at a "Meet the Press" event at a hotel in Dhaka's Banani on Tuesday, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said holding local polls first would both reduce public suffering and demonstrate the transparency and neutrality of the Election Commission.

"If local government elections are held first, it will help ease people's hardships and also serve as a test of the Election Commission's fairness," Shafiqur said, as the party clarified its stance following a recent court verdict clearing the way for Jamaat's registration as a political party.

On el...