Adviser denies 'lack of trust' between govt and BNP

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Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman ruled out any lack of trust between the government and BNP Monday, despite government appeals against bail orders secured by Tarique Rahman, reports bdnews24.com. brSpeaking after a seminar on 'Citizen Charter What, Why and How', the adviser told journalists the circumstances regarding the release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman had not changed. brAsked whether the government appeals were due to a lack of trust between the government and the BNP, Zillur said, There is no need to come to such a serious conclusion over a single action such as this. brThe appeals against Tarique's bail orders came as a consequence of the legal procedure, he added. brThe adviser told journalists that the government was going forward in this regard by considering political, legal and humanitarian factors. brSpeaking as the chief guest at Monday's seminar, organised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and human rights organisation Manusher Jonno, Hossain Zillur said that there were still many challenges ahead to enforce citizens' charters. brHe added that bureaucrats and citizens both have important roles to play in making this initiative a success. brIt was pointed out at the seminar, chaired by TIB trustee board member and former caretaker government adviser Sultana Kamal, that a citizens' charter was the expression of understanding between citizens and public service providers with respect to the quality and quantity of service a citizen was entitled to. brIn his welcome note, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzamn lauded the current government for its reform programmes including initiating citizens' charters in the public sector. brHe expressed the hope the government would take active measures to endorse it in every public service organisation. brArif H Khan, programme officer of Manusher Jonno, presented the keynote paper at the seminar, identifying most citizens' charters of public sector organisations as 'incomplete'.