Bangladesh to delay general election by a week to December 30

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh will defer its general election by a week to Dec. 30, the country's chief election commissioner said on Monday, following requests from several opposition parties to give them more time to prepare.

Last week, the Election Commission had announced that the country would go to the polls on Dec. 23.

"At the request of several political parties the date of general election is deferred by a week to December 30 instead of 23," K. M. Nurul Huda, the chief election commissioner, said at an event in Dhaka.

(Reporting by Serajul Quadir; Writing by Euan Rocha; Edited by Martin Howell)