(Adds media restrictions lifted)

By Anis Ahmed

DHAKA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Bangladesh's president named a new interim administration chief on Friday and lifted a night curfew as well as tough curbs on the media, a day after imposing them under emergency laws and postponing national elections.

The steps by President Iajuddin Ahmed's were seen as a much-needed bid to reach out to political groups opposed to him and halt violence that has caused chaos in the impoverished South Asian country for nearly three months.

Iajuddin resigned late on Thursday as the head of an interim administration charged with holding elections. He hoped the decision would end the violence that has killed dozens, injured hundreds and hurt business.

On Friday, he named former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed to succeed him.

Iajuddin administered the oath of office to Ahmed, 66, at a simple ceremony at the presidential palace, attended by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and leaders of her multi-party alliance that had been demanding he resign as caretaker chief.

But Hasina's rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, the previous prime minister and chief of Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP), was not seen at the ceremony.

Hasina had accused Iajuddin of favouring Khaleda in the run-up to the Jan. 22 poll. She had called a series of strikes and blockades to force him to step aside and for the election to be postponed.

Within hours, the government also lifted controls on the media that had drawn widespread criticism.

"The curbs are withdrawn but the media has been requested not to write anything provocative," a senior information ministry official, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

UNCERTAINTY

Iajuddin's decision to quit appeared to calm the capital Dhaka which, along with most other parts of the country, has been beset by months of protests and strikes. At least 45 people have been killed.

Troops patrolled the streets but no trouble was reported.

"There will be no night-time curfew from Friday, but the state of emergency will continue," a Dhaka police officer said.

The impoverished country still faces uncertainty over when elections will take place.

Khaleda stepped down in October at the end of her five-year term. Under the constitution, a caretaker administration runs the country and has to prepare for elections within three months. The state presidency is normally a ceremonial post, but the current power vacuum has meant Iajuddin is now the sole political authority under the constitution as well as armed forces chief.

Under the state of emergency law, introduced for the first time in 30 years, political activities on the streets have been curtailed and the public is also banned from criticising the government and its activities.

Protests and marches are also banned and the media had been stopped from printing and broadcasting critical political news, photographs and cartoons.

The new interim leader would be required to choose a panel of advisers to run the country up to the next elections. They would also set a new schedule in consultation with the Election Commission and political parties.

The move to delay the vote came after the United Nations and the European Commission suspended support for the poll.

A prolonged crisis could seriously undermine Bangladesh's chances of realising its economic potential and joining the ranks of Asia's fast-growing economic markets.

Diplomats and analysts also fear the political uncertainties could play into the hands of Islamist extremist groups who have been trying to gain a bigger foothold in one of the world's most populous Muslim nations. (Additional reporting by Nizam Ahmed and Masud Karim)

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