Reform steps targeted to make state institutions truly functional: Moeen

FE Team | Published: October 25, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

NEW YORK, Oct 24 (BSS): Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed left here for China yesterday after a week-long visit to the USA.
"The Army Chief has left the John F Kennedy Airport by a Cathy Pacific Airlines at around 11 pm local time," said an official of the government of Bangladesh here.
Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ismat Jahan, Foreign Secretary Mohammad Touhid Hossain, Military Attache Brigadier General Ilias Iftikhar Rasul saw the army chief off at the airport.
General Moeen, who reached New York from London on October 17 attended a number of functions, including meetings with expatriate Bangladeshis and local journalists. During the visit, he delivered a lecture at a Harvard University seminar and met co-chairman of Bangladesh Caucus of the US Congress congressmen Joseph Crowley.
While delivering a lecture at Harvard University in Boston yesterday, Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed has said the present government's reform measures were targeted to make important state institutions truly functional, effective, neutral and pro-people.
"Formation of independent Election Commission, Anti- Corruption Commission and separation of the judiciary from the executive are clear reflections of it," he said.
General Moeen, who passed his week-long busy schedule in the USA before his departure last night from here for China, said the present caretaker government had taken a number of administrative and policy steps to control corruption and strengthen democracy in Bangladesh.
The members of the armed forces have helped the government to meet its objective and they would stand beside the government until corruption is rooted out, he added.
Asked about the general elections in Bangladesh, the four- star general said that the elections would be held by 2008 as per the guidelines of the Election Commission.
Sajeeb raises Hasina's
detention issue
bdnews24.com adds: Sajeeb Wazed Joy said he wanted to know from General Moeen U Ahmed about the reasons for the detention of his mother Sheikh Hasina "without trial".
The former prime minister's son raised the issue with the Army Chief at a luncheon after a seminar at Harvard University in the US Tuesday.
In an interview with private TV station Channel i Wednesday, Sajeeb said he had asked Moeen why many including Hasina have been detained in jail "without trial".
Hasina's son, who was a student of Harvard University, quoted Moeen as saying: "It is completely beyond our jurisdiction.