DHAKA, March 25 (Reuters) - The head of Bangladesh's army-backed interim government vowed on Sunday to complete a drive against corruption in the impoverished nation before holding elections that were postponed in January.

More than 160 political figures have been detained since a state of emergency was imposed in January following weeks of political violence. A parliamentary election set for January 22 was put off.

"The current government is determined to continue the drive to eliminate political and other corruptions in the best interest of the country, its people and democracy," Fakhruddin Ahmed, the chief of the interim administration, said.

Bangladesh had failed to achieve economic progress more than three decades after independence largely because of the country's confrontational politics, he said.

"Our mission is to put behind all the lapses and failures and to take our country to a level of international respectability," he said.

Fakhruddin was speaking after the Bangladesh army, which has promised to support the campaign against corruption, was given the nation's highest civilian award along with microfinance agency BRAC for their contribution to the country.

He hoped the army, which played a key role in the 1971 war of independence, would safeguard interests of the country and its people.

Army chief Lieutenant-General Moeen U. Ahmed, who received the award, said the armed forces would support the civilian government in its efforts to rid the country of corruption and organize a free, fair and credible general election.

Fakhruddin took over in January after President Iajuddin Ahmed had declared a state of emergency to contain widespread political violence that killed 45 people and injured hundreds.

The interim authority has refused to announce a new election date until critical electoral reforms and the fight against corruption was completed.

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