Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said his government is at the final stage of achieving its goal to hold a free, fair and credible general election by December this year.
“We hope and believe that election will be held by December this year,” the head of the caretaker government said at a reception hosted in his honour at Bangladesh House (Bangladesh Embassy) in the Chinese capital.
Bangladeshi students, businessmen, experts of different professions, officials of the embassy as well as Chinese elite were present at the function.
The CA said the Election Commission has already completed the voter list with photographs of more than 80 million voters. “Such gigantic task in a short time is a remarkable achievement,” he said.
On economy, the CA said the economy has had difficult times in last several months for rise in prices of petroleum products and food on the international market. “We have really overcome the situation.”
Referring to the meeting on Sunday of Bangladesh Better Business Forum (BBBF) in Dhaka to mark its first founding anniversary, he said the forum was formed last year to forge a strong public-private partnership. “We have made some progress in this sector,” he told the function.
He said private sector is the engine of growth and government is the facilitator.
Despite a difficult situation on the economic front last year, he said, “we have done well”.
Mentioning China’s economic boom, he said China remains as an example to Bangladesh. Economic relations with China are also very strong and growing day by day, he noted. Many Chinese businessmen are investing in Bangladesh.
He urged the Bangladeshi students studying in China to learn what China was able to do for its economy and its people and hoped that the students, after completing their studies, would be able to contribute to socioeconomic progress in Bangladesh.
The CA hoped that the bond of friendship between Bangladesh and China would become stronger.
“China is an important development partner of Bangladesh and invested in many sectors, particularly in infrastructure,” the CA said.
The Bangladeshis in China welcomed the chief adviser and the CA exchanged pleasantries with them. Many of them took photos with him.
Chief Adviser’s wife Neena Ahmed was also present at the reception.
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary M Touhid Hossain, Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Zheng Qingdian, Secretary of the CA’s Office Kazi M Aminul Islam, CA’s Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim and Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed were also present at the function.
The CA is scheduled to have official talks with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and call on President Hu Jintao today.
He is also scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of Paralympics Beijing 2008 tomorrow.
Earlier on arrival at Beijing Capital Airport, the CA was accorded a red carpet reception.
Assistant Foreign Minister of China Hu Zhengyue received the CA at the airport. Two tiny tots presented bouquets to the CA and his wife. Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed was also present at the airport.
A flight of Dragon Air, carrying the CA and his entourage from Dhaka via Hong Kong, landed at the airport at about 12:25am (local time). Later, He was taken in a ceremonial motorcade to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse
The CA left Dhaka for Beijing early yesterday on a four-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
