Bowing to pressure from the Awami League-led major alliance, President Iajuddin Ahmed today stepped down as head of Bangladesh’s interim government soon after declaring a state of emergency ahead of controversial general elections on January 22.

The president’s move came after he also imposed night curfew in the country as violence loomed in the wake of the decision by the alliance led by Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina to stay away from the elections and organise nationwide street protests to press for the removal of Ahmed as head of the interim government to ensure free and fair polls.

Earlier in the day, international pressure mounted on Ahmed as UN and EU suspended monitoring duties of their observers saying legitimacy of the polls had been jeopardized and India said it hoped “people of Bangladesh will be allowed to exercise their democratic rights to choose their own government in a free and fair process through credible elections in which all major political parties are in a position to participate”.

All nine other advisors of the interim government also resigned. The senior most advisor, Justice Mohammad Fazlul Haque, has taken charge as the acting chief advisor.