Bangladesh's interim government removed a series of senior officials including the national police chief late on Thursday, hours ahead of an opposition deadline to prove its impartiality before organising polls.
The chief editor of the state-run BSS news agency was sacked and administrators in each of the country's six regions were also removed, among other changes, said caretaker government spokesman Ali Hossain.
Bangladesh's opposition parties have given the interim authority, tasked with overseeing polls in January, until on Friday to demonstrate its neutrality by making key political changes.
Twenty-three people have died in violent protests since the previous government's term expired on Friday.
Caretaker government spokesman Ali Hossain said national police chief Anwarul Iqbal was removed from his post and made an officer without duties.
The government made nine other "changes" involving senior officers, he said without elaborating.
"There will be more big changes on Saturday," said A.F.M Solaiman Chowdhury, secretary of the establishment ministry which oversees civil service appointments.
The moves followed a meeting late on Thursday of the government's 10-member advisory council, effectively the interim cabinet.
The members discussed issues including reforming the election commission, a key demand of the opposition parties, said Mahbubul Alam, one of the council members.
Two advisors also visited the home of main opposition Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed although it was not known what was discussed.
The opposition has threatened to hold mass protests unless its demands are met. Earlier, the interim government appealed for more time to make changes.