By Roland Buerk BBC News, Dhaka

There has been a heavy security presence over the last two days

A nationwide blockade of roads and railways in Bangladesh has been suspended after two days of disruption.

The Awami League and its allies organised a stoppage to try to force through changes they say are necessary for forthcoming elections to be fair.

The interim government has asked the election commission to revise the voters' list and reschedule the polls.

The caretaker government is supposed to be neutral and is responsible for ensuring the vote is free and fair.

'Riddled with errors'

The Awami League and its allies say the transport blockade has been suspended while the political parties and the interim government look for a way out of the crisis.

The announcement came after a day of demonstrations that in places turned violent.

The blockade caused major disruption in Dhaka

In the far south-east of the country supporters of rival political parties clashed.

Two people were shot dead and another stabbed to death.

As the protest continued Bangladesh's temporary cabinet met.

Constitutionally, the administration - headed by the President Iajuddin Ahmed - is charged with organising free and fair elections.

They asked the election commission to reschedule the polls and to overhaul the voters' list which the Awami League says is riddled with errors.

Some officials accused of bias towards the outgoing government led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are likely to be asked to go on extended leave.

The election commission - which constitutionally is independent of the government - is yet to give a response to the request.

The proposals do not go as far as the Awami League had wanted, but even so they may be too much for the BNP to stomach.

But members of the temporary cabinet say they are hopeful an end to the stand-off could be in sight if the political parties can compromise.