Emergency to be lifted at logical time: H Zillur

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Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman Tuesday said that the state of emergency would be withdrawn at the recommendation of the election commission at an appropriate time, reports UNB.
"We have persistently been saying that the elections will not be held under a state of emergency. It will be lifted at a logical time on receipt of recommendation from the election commission," he told reporters at the Works Ministry after meeting with UN election-assessment team that was sent to Dhaka by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon.
Two other advisers who are also in charge of holding negotiations with the political parties -- Hassan Ariff and Anwarul Iqbal - were present both at the meeting with the UN assessment team and later at the press briefing.
Spokesman of the caretaker government, Zillur said there were lots of doubts and confusions about transition to democracy from emergency rule. "We've overcome the difficult time and our patience and sense of responsibility have paid us the dividend," he said.
In the process of transition to democracy, he said the government and the political parties are not adversaries. "Everyone is ready to ensure free, fair and credible elections as we are committed to fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people," he told the reporters.
bdnews24.com adds: Before the briefing, the four advisers met with the UN delegation visiting Dhaka to observe the pre-election preparations and environment.
The UN delegation headed by Francis Vendrell also included Nepal's chief election commissioner Bhusraj Pokhrel and UN political wing chief Arakeli Nastana.
Emerging from the meeting, the delegation chief said: "The UN wants to see a free atmosphere for all political parties and we hardly found problems in our primary observations."
Vendrell welcomed the media freedom and the prevailing conducive environment for holding political meetings.
Asked if there was any assurance about lifting the state of emergency, he said, "We are not here to ask for that."
But the state of emergency would go if nothing serious happened and "all parties will get equal opportunities", he added.
Francis said there is proper electoral environment in the country.
"The UN will not send a separate team to monitor polls and we'll evaluate the decisions by the US-based NDI and other international agencies," the UN representative said.