China calls for fair and inclusive polls in Bangladesh

China today called for "fair and inclusive elections" in Bangladesh amid spiralling violence in the country ahead of the January 5 polls.

"As a close and friendly neighbour of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that all concerned parties put the general interest first," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing.

Hong urged Bangladesh's feuding parties to find an acceptable solution via dialogue and focus on political and social stability, and economic development of the country.

At least 67 people have died in clashes since October when an 18-party opposition alliance led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party launched a wave of protests calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign before the polls and set up a non-party interim government.

The BNP, led by Hasina's bitter rival Khaleda Zia, is boycotting the polls as it has not fielded any candidates and former President H M Ershad's Jatiya Party, a former ally of the Hasina-led Awami League, has announced it will also not participate in the elections.