Bangladesh News

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday apprised visiting British foreign minister David Miliband of the measures taken to hold a free, fair and credible election within the stated timeframe and also the ongoing institutional reforms to that end.

Miliband, who arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit, said that he had received useful briefings on these issues from the chief election commissioner and the foreign adviser earlier.

He asserted that his government would support the goals set out by the caretaker government.

He appreciated the information provided on the dialogue with the political parties, who, the chief adviser said, are not viewed as “opponents of the caretaker government”. The role of the government in the political process leading to the election will only be that of a “facilitator”, he said.

Miliband was “deeply impressed” by the achievements of the caretaker government under the leadership of Fakhruddin Ahmed during the past 12 months, according to an official release on the discussions held when he paid a courtesy call on the chief adviser.

The British foreign minister referred to the close relationship between Bangladesh and the UK on such issues as climate change, counter-terrorism and the attainments of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations.

He lauded Bangladesh’s active role on climate change and thanked the chief adviser for the active support given to the UK on the subject in international fora. He said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was also “passionate” on the issue of climate change.

The chief adviser spoke of the aftereffects of the floods and cyclone Sidr on the economy and also on the price hike of commodities, including rice, and thanked the development partners, including the UK, for their “friendly contributions”.

They discussed the possibilities of a meeting in London, supported by the World Bank, on the broad areas of climate change and development.

Miliband praised the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK, saying their role is a source of pride for both the UK and Bangladesh.

Miliband has also expressed his own observation that the media in Bangladesh are both “free and polite”.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary to the Chief Adviser’s office Kazi M Aminul Islam, Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to London Shafi U Ahmed and British High Commissioner in Dhaka Anwar Choudhury were also present.