Dhaka, Dec. 9 -- The interim government on Tuesday urged all to refrain from holding any illegal or unauthorised public gatherings or protest programmes once the schedule for the upcoming national election is announced.

The decision was taken at a meeting at the Home Ministry, said a statement of the Chief Adviser's press wing.

It said any illegal or unauthorised gatherings, or movements that cause public inconvenience during the election period will be strictly controlled.

Those who will participate in unauthorised assemblies will face legal action, it added.

"The primary objective of the interim government is to ensure that the 13th national election, to be held in the first half of February, is free, fair, neutral, credible and fes...