JS election by Dec, reaffirms CA

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Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed has reaffirmed that the general election will be held before the end of next December and urged voters to elect honest and capable candidates, taking it as their social responsibility.

He said the government and the Election Commission (EC) will extend all-out support to the voters so that they can vote for their chosen candidates.

The head of the caretaker government made the call at an opinion-exchange meeting at Shaheed Abul Hossain auditorium here yesterday.

Lawyers, freedom fighters, teachers, journalists, business leaders, women representatives and fish farmers spoke at the meeting organised by the district administration.

Referring to the recently held city corporation and municipal elections, the CA said spontaneous participation and turnout of voters in these elections will remain as an exemplary example and help expedite the process of transition to democracy.

Regarding upazila elections, he said the government and the EC want to hold the upazila polls in near future. The EC is making necessary preparations to hold the polls.

The participants in the meeting mainly focused on the process of leasing out ‘jalmahals’ (water bodies) and the government policies on it.

They alleged that real fish farmers are not getting lease of jalmahals, rather a section of affluent people are taking lease of those in the name cooperative societies of fish farmers. The poor and real fish farmers cannot compete in the tender for getting lease of jalmahals for want of money, they said.

The participants demanded amendment to the government’s policy so that real fish farmers can get lease of jalmahals and also setting up of separate `Jalmahal Authority’ in the district. Sunamganj abounds with nearly 4,500 jalmahals

In response, the CA said the fisheries directorate and the fisheries ministry will take action to resolve the problems as soon as possible.

Speaking at the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Fisheries and Livestock Manik Lal Sammmadar said the land ministry is working to bring amendments to the present jalmahal policy.

He informed that the land ministry is making a list of jalmahals with the cooperation of the fisheries directorate for a quick solution to the problem.

The participants also spoke about other local problems including construction of roads and bridges, development of educational institutions and health service facilities.

They lauded the government’s anti-crime and anti-corruption activities as well as for holding elections to city corporations and municipalities on August 4 peacefully and fairly.

On corruption, the CA appreciated the people’s stand against corruption and their support to the caretaker government’s strong stand against the vice. “People also will have to take a stand that they will not to resort to corruption, nor allow anyone to do corruption,” he said.

About communication networks, he said steps will be taken to complete the under-construction roads and bridges as early as possible.

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