Law of land to decide fate of two top detained leaders: CA

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Chief Adviser Dr Fakruddin Ahmed Saturday told a visiting European Parliamentary delegation that the law of the land would decide the fate of the two detained top leaders of two major political parties.
He also said the state of emergency would be lifted and the country's political parties would be allowed to resume their full-fledged activities at an appropriate time, reports UNB.
The European Parliamentary Delegation on South Asian Affairs made a courtesy call on the head of the interim government at the Chief Adviser's (CA's) office and discussed issues relating to elections, state of emergency, opening of political activities, the fate of the detained two top leaders, fertiliser supply, etc.
Robert Evans, member of European Parliament, London and chief of South Asian delegation, led the delegation.
They expressed sympathy on the loss of lives and property in Thursday's powerful cyclonic storm in Bangladesh, and termed that an adverse effect of climate change.
The delegation said the government faces two big challenges-floods and cyclonic storms- and expressed the hope that the government would be able to overcome the problems.
The CA said it is a difficult time for Bangladesh as a severe cyclone hit the country's coastal districts.
As the delegation wanted to know about the fate of the detained two top political leaders of the country, the chief adviser said they were arrested on major charges and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was investigating those.
The law of the land will decide whether the leaders would be freed or convicted, the CA said adding that no special court or tribunal had been set up for their trial.
"Let the judicial system to decide it," he told the delegation.
Replying to a query on treatment of those detained leaders in prison, Fakhruddin assured them that each and every body would be able to avail themselves of the due process.
He said the present government is following two principles --no one is above the law and everyone is entitled to due process.
On resumption of political activities, he said political parties are the important players in the process of democracy.
He said indoor politics is open and the Election Commission is carrying out dialogues with political parties on a set of guidelines on electoral reforms.
Political parties are also carrying out reforms within their parties as per their own demands and requirements, he added.
The chief adviser said if the Election Commission can complete the voter-list with photographs before the set deadline of September, the elections would be held ahead of the announced timeframe of December 2008.
He said the government is carrying out a massive task of preparing the electoral roll with photographs of about 90 million voters in a short period of time.
"The voter listing with photographs is a demand of the political parties and the people," he said.
Briefing them on the objectives of his government, the CA said the main task of the government is to hold a free, fair and acceptable election in a congenial atmosphere where there would be no influence of 3Ms -- muscle, money and misuse of authority.
"So institutional reforms are being carried out," he said adding that all reforms, including reconstitution of the Election Commission and the ACC, separation of the judiciary and strengthening local government, would give democracy a strong footing.
He said the government wants that not only the next elections, but also all the future elections in Bangladesh would be held fairly, according to CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim who was present at the meeting.
On fertiliser, Fakhruddin said the government has made a greater stock of 2.8 million (28 lakh) tonnes of fertiliser than the previous usual stock of 2.5 million tonnes, and would raise the number of fertiliser dealers to 10,000 from 4,500 to ensure its timely supply to the farmers.
The European delegation appreciated the caretaker government's performance mentioning people's supports behind it.