Bangladesh News

The caretaker government yesterday announced that the state of emergency would be lifted at a ‘reasonable time’ before the parliamentary polls scheduled for December 29.

“Emergency will be lifted fully in due time before the election following recommendations of the Election Commission (EC),” Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters at the Secretariat after a meeting with three advisers of the government.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed said he would request the government to lift the state of emergency before the December 29 election.

Zillur, however, refused to give a specific date of withdrawing the emergency, which was imposed in the country on January 11, 2007, a day before the formation of Fakhruddin Ahmed-led present government.

He said the EC had fruitful discussions with political parties and both BNP and Awami League (AL) announced to take part in the polls. “We have gradually been saying our thoughts about the emergency,” he added.

The commerce adviser said the political parties, government, media and others have shown their patience [regarding lifting of the emergency] and finally all came out successful, creating a strong base for transition to democracy.

“I hope we will be able to overcome rest of the challenges as all of us are now working together for the transition,” Zillur told the reporters, saying that they are ready and committed to hold a free, fair and neutral election.

He also hoped that the caretaker government would be victorious in meeting the national expectation.

Two major political parties –BNP and AL– have been pressing for lifting of the emergency ahead of the election. BNP demands to lift emergency from the last date of nomination paper withdrawal while AL has been asking to remove it even before that.

ARMY CHIEF
Addressing a reception organised by the Council for Chamber Presidents (CCP) at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre yesterday, the army chief said, “I can assure you that the government will withdraw the state of emergency before the polls.”

Moeen, however, felt that the government should be given some time to withdraw the state of emergency and urged all to be patient in this regard.

Withdrawal of the emergency before the national elections is very important, the army chief said in the reception in which presidents of many district chambers also joined.

“We will request the government so that it withdraws the state of emergency before the polls,” Moeen said while responding to a speech made by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Annisul Huq.

Highlighting different activities of the army in the last two years, he said the troops will work shoulder to shoulder with people in any future crisis of the country.

Moeen said even though they unwillingly stepped into the political arena of the country on January 11, 2007, the armed forces played a very strong role in different activities including preparations of the voter list, anti-corruption drives, recovery of grabbed land of the government, recovery of siphoned off money, enhancing efficiency in Chittagong Sea Port and rehabilitation work after two spells of natural disasters–cyclone Sidr and floods.

The army went back to the barracks within 48 hours after the government ordered them to do so, he said.

Moeen apologised to the business community for a few of their tough actions including demolishing structures. He said it was done to uphold the rule of law.

The EC at a meeting with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed on Sunday proposed to lift the emergency from December 12 on expiry of the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy in the national polls.