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Download PDF The US government fully supports the electoral roadmap of the Election Commission (EC) and the reform steps taken by the caretaker government, said visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs John A Gastright yesterday while making a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed.
Gastright had meetings with the chief adviser (CA), foreign adviser, chief election commissioner (CEC), the army chief, leaders of the business community, civil society members, and political parties in the last two days, discussing the current political situation in Bangladesh, reported BSS and UNB.
CA Fakhruddin welcomed Gastright in his office in the capital and reiterated that the government will try to arrange the upcoming election, if possible, earlier than the set time of up to December 2008, while simultaneously establishing the rule of law and good governance.
“A number of political parties are going to undergo reforms within themselves,” Fakhruddin told Gastright adding that registration and financial transparency of political parties are public demands.
Referring to his visit to the EC Secretariat, Gastright told journalists he is impressed by the progress of the commission’s activities for holding the election on time, and the EC’s five-point plan.
Referring to the huge task of bringing electoral reforms and holding the election on time, the US deputy assistant secretary said the caretaker government needs time to perform the tasks and the international community will support it.
The chief adviser told Gastright that the government is working relentlessly to create an atmosphere conducive to holding a free and fair election not only for one term but also for the following terms, strengthening the democratic process.
Referring to the ongoing electoral reform process, the CA said people of all strata appreciated the steps taken by the EC for establishing transparency and accountability in political parties, and for initiating steps to make it mandatory for parliamentary political parties to be registered with the commission. The parties have already started reforming themselves, he added.
Due course of law is being followed in handling all affairs, including the drives against corruption, Fakhruddin told Gastright adding that the government is upholding human rights.
Our staff correspondent reported that following the meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury, Gastright said the voters of Bangladesh have the responsibility to support candidates who are ‘empowered’ by the government’s ongoing political and electoral reforms.
“I would like to point out that free and fair elections are a two-way street. The people also have the responsibility to make certain that they support candidates who are empowered by this institutional framework,” Gastright told reporters following his courtesy call on Iftekhar A Chowdhury at the foreign ministry yesterday.
Referring to the ‘new institutional framework’, Gastright said the US is behind the caretaker government’s electoral reforms and empowering of institutions of sustainable democracy that will lead to holding free, fair and credible elections.
Speaking at a meeting with newspaper editors at the residence of US Charge de Affairs Geeta Pasi, Gastright said a vibrant and free media is also a crucial aspect of moving towards restoration of full democracy.
“I encouraged our friends in the government to remain committed to their reform agenda, and also highlighted the interest of the international community in what is happening here in Bangladesh.”
About his meeting with the army chief, Gastright said he had an excellent meeting with Gen Moeen U Ahmed, where he congratulated the chief of army staff on the important role the joint forces are playing in support of the caretaker government.
“I welcomed General Moeen’s repeated assurances that he and the army do not have any political ambition,” Gastright said.
“I was frank regarding our concerns about human rights and the due process for those detained under the state of emergency, whether on corruption charges or on charges of violating the emergency rules,” he added.
He expressed similar sentiments when pressed for comments on the arrests of the two former prime ministers, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
Referring to his meetings with the business community and selected civil society representatives, Gastright said, “We realise that as Bangladesh moves closer towards a full democracy, outreach to the business community can assure stability; communication with the international community can provide assistance; and interaction with the civil society and NGOs can provide accountability.”
Stressing that ‘the US is not here to dictate’, he said, “The US is here to listen and see the plans the caretaker government is developing to bring democracy to the Bangladeshi people,” He spent his meeting with the CEC listening to the EC’s 5-point electoral reform strategy.
He also said CEC ATM Shamsul Huda told him about the plan to bring political parties together to accept some internal institutional reforms, so there will be more democratic parties.
Gastright is scheduled to leave Bangladesh today.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
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