CA allays fears about holding JS polls
Friday, 26 September 2008
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, Sept 24: Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government, allayed general apprehension about the coming polls, reiterating in unequivocal terms that there should be no doubt in anybody's mind about the elections to the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) being held on the appointed date of December 18.
The Chief Adviser, now in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, was responding to queries from the people at the civic reception accorded to him by Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA. The reception was attended by a cross section of people of different political hues.
The US Congress last Tuesday passed a law pledging total American support to the holding of a clean, fair and honest election in Bangladesh. Such law was never passed before.
"We have been persistently saying that the election to the parliament will be held by the third week of December and we did not stray for our goal," Dr. Fakhruddin said.
He said the government has no hand in political detenues now being enlarged on bails in droves. They are being set free on bail by the courts. He said the cases against them have not been withdrawn. He said 92 persons have already been convicted by the court on various charges.
He admitted that there was no alternative to democracy. He said a new era of honest and clean politics will be ushered in. There are ample provisions in the new electoral law to keep at bay the corrupt people and democratise the political parties. Several new bodies like Human Rights Commission, Local Bodies Commission, Right to Information Act, separation of judiciary from executive, a truly independent election commission, anti-corruption commission and public service commission will bring about qualitative changes in the domestic politics of Bangladesh.
Dr. Fakhruddin disclosed to the wild applauds of the people present that Bangladeshi expatriates "will retain their Bangladeshi citizenship." A law to this effect was passed on Sept 23. He said he was also a visionary like other people. But all visions and dream cannot be translated into reality in one-go.
The chief advisor disagreed with a questioner that western diplomats are putting undue pressure and unnecessarily intervening in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. "We listen to them but are not influenced by them. We take our own decision," he asserted.
Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed Chowdhury, foreign adviser, said, Bangladesh's foreign policy format has been totally changed. It is now based on ten principles of self-interest. The new principles are fostering ties with the neighbours, forging closer ties with UN bodies, enhancing the level of friendship with the US, Russia, Britain, China and Japan, freer flow of Bangladeshi merchandise to new markets including the US, exploring new markets for Bangladeshi workers and ensuring food and energy security.
He said during the tenure of the present government more than 0.8 million (8 lakh) people went with new employments abroad and they remitted $6.6 billion.
More than 0.9 million jobs have been found and they will remit $7.0 billion.
Rasheda Chowdhury, adviser for women affairs said, that Bangladesh has made strident strides in various fields like reducing child mortality. There is no reason to belittle these gains.
Also present at the civic reception were Ismet Jahan, Permanent Representative to the UN, Shamsul Huq, consul general and members of the media corps.
The civic reception was followed by Iftar and dinner.
NEW YORK, Sept 24: Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government, allayed general apprehension about the coming polls, reiterating in unequivocal terms that there should be no doubt in anybody's mind about the elections to the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) being held on the appointed date of December 18.
The Chief Adviser, now in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, was responding to queries from the people at the civic reception accorded to him by Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA. The reception was attended by a cross section of people of different political hues.
The US Congress last Tuesday passed a law pledging total American support to the holding of a clean, fair and honest election in Bangladesh. Such law was never passed before.
"We have been persistently saying that the election to the parliament will be held by the third week of December and we did not stray for our goal," Dr. Fakhruddin said.
He said the government has no hand in political detenues now being enlarged on bails in droves. They are being set free on bail by the courts. He said the cases against them have not been withdrawn. He said 92 persons have already been convicted by the court on various charges.
He admitted that there was no alternative to democracy. He said a new era of honest and clean politics will be ushered in. There are ample provisions in the new electoral law to keep at bay the corrupt people and democratise the political parties. Several new bodies like Human Rights Commission, Local Bodies Commission, Right to Information Act, separation of judiciary from executive, a truly independent election commission, anti-corruption commission and public service commission will bring about qualitative changes in the domestic politics of Bangladesh.
Dr. Fakhruddin disclosed to the wild applauds of the people present that Bangladeshi expatriates "will retain their Bangladeshi citizenship." A law to this effect was passed on Sept 23. He said he was also a visionary like other people. But all visions and dream cannot be translated into reality in one-go.
The chief advisor disagreed with a questioner that western diplomats are putting undue pressure and unnecessarily intervening in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. "We listen to them but are not influenced by them. We take our own decision," he asserted.
Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed Chowdhury, foreign adviser, said, Bangladesh's foreign policy format has been totally changed. It is now based on ten principles of self-interest. The new principles are fostering ties with the neighbours, forging closer ties with UN bodies, enhancing the level of friendship with the US, Russia, Britain, China and Japan, freer flow of Bangladeshi merchandise to new markets including the US, exploring new markets for Bangladeshi workers and ensuring food and energy security.
He said during the tenure of the present government more than 0.8 million (8 lakh) people went with new employments abroad and they remitted $6.6 billion.
More than 0.9 million jobs have been found and they will remit $7.0 billion.
Rasheda Chowdhury, adviser for women affairs said, that Bangladesh has made strident strides in various fields like reducing child mortality. There is no reason to belittle these gains.
Also present at the civic reception were Ismet Jahan, Permanent Representative to the UN, Shamsul Huq, consul general and members of the media corps.
The civic reception was followed by Iftar and dinner.