[JURIST] Bangladeshi authorities said Saturday they had arrested over 2500 people and raided the homes of several political leaders in a crackdown following Friday's swearing-in of a new interim government [New Age report] facing ongoing civil unrest ahead of elections. A national poll had been scheduled for January 22, but earlier this week Bangladeshi president Iajuddin Ahmed [Wikipedia profile] deferred the vote indefinitely after declaring a state of emergency [JURIST report] in the country and stepping aside as the personal head of the caretaker government required to take office 90 days ahead of a national election.

A member of the Bangladesh Election Commission [official website] confirmed Saturday that the activities of the commission had been suspended [UNB report]. AP has more.