Bangladesh News

Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed has said the government will soon sit with political parties to discuss holding of free, fair and credible elections, and strengthening the foundation of democracy.

“‘Dialogue is essential…Beyond political parties, we will also hold dialogue with representatives of the civil society, professional groups and media who are speaking about transition to democracy,” he said at a meeting with members of the Bangladesh community at Grand

Hotel Quellenhof at Bad Ragaz on Wednesday afternoon.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to UN offices in Geneva Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim also spoke at the function.

The CA, who arrived here to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos, said efforts are underway to advance the election ahead of December 2008.

He spelt out his government’s main aims to hold free and fair election and establish effective democratic process through various reforms.

Referring to his address to the nation on January 12, the CA said restrictions on indoor politics outside Dhaka would be lifted.

He said the Election Commission’s dialogue with political parties is at the final stage and the commission is likely to announce its final reforms of the electoral rules and regulations shortly to ensure free and fair elections.

The CA mentioned the reforms of the Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and separation of the judiciary from the executive control. The government will make the Election Commission truly independent, if necessary by making laws, he said.

Replying to a question, the head of the caretaker government said current anti-corruption drive would continue as the ACC is being strengthened as an independent institution so efficient and neutral people could run it with the support of the people in future.

He dismissed the notion that the anti-corruption drive is being conducted with partiality. “There is no scope for being biased,” the CA said, adding that those who have been made accused through investigations are being put on trial.

He, however, admitted the institutional and time constraints that may cause it to appear that all corrupt people are not being tried. He said the ACC will carry on investigations against all corruption suspects and bring them to justice in future.

About incorporating expatriate Bangladeshis in the voter list, he said the Election Commission had already visited the United Kingdom and talked to the expatriate Bangladeshis. The commission is thinking deeply about it, but it may not be possible to accomplish the task overnight by a stroke of pen.

Asked about the reasons of resignation of four advisers at a time, the CA said the advisers resigned on their own after a year and the government accepted their resignations and appointed new ones. He said people will judge their performance or failures, if any.

About holding trial of war criminals, he said it is the demand of the time but it needs time. The trial could not take place in last 36 years, but trial of such crimes is not time-bound and it could take place in future.

He said any aggrieved person can file case against a war criminal, but it may not be possible for the incumbent caretaker government to start it because of the time constraint.

Asked about the foreign diplomats’ frequent comments on internal affairs of Bangladesh, Fakhruddin said: “We’re trying so they refrain from doing that. Perhaps, they perceive that it is unwarranted to make comments.”

About agriculture subsidy and food production, he said since the acres of land are dwindling, the government is trying to increase the agriculture production through research work.

He said the government is trying to ensure adequate supply of seed, fertiliser and irrigation in time before the Boro cultivation. This time around, the government has set the target of procuring 28 lakh tonnes of urea and distribute those among the farmers from 12,000 points.

The CA said although the rise in rice price has put people in difficulty, but the poor farmers in rural areas are benefited out of it.

He said the private sector must be strengthened and made dynamic so unemployment problem could be tackled. The government is trying to generate employment through ADP programme. Besides, the poor and unemployed are being supported through various programmes like Food for Work and VGF.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the government is anxious about the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates and has already signed agreements with a number of countries to protect their interest.

He said all deputy commissioners have been instructed to deploy a magistrate in each district to look after Bangladeshi expatriates or NRBs when they will be staying in Bangladesh.