EIU hopes due transfer of power in Dec
Monday, 3 November 2008
The London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has said Sunday the caretaker government (CG) is expected to hand over power to a new elected government shortly after the parliamentary election on December 18, reports UNB.
The EIU in its monthly report, however, said the caretaker government and the Election Commission (EC) need to overcome a number of obstacles in the weeks ahead to ensure that the polls are free, fair and credible.
It said the election would be regarded as free if members of all of the country's political parties are able to participate.
The recent decision by the caretaker government to grant bail to a number of important politicians, arrested as a result of its anti-corruption drive, has helped to fulfill its promise of a free election, it noted.
More importantly, the EIU said Khaleda Zia of BNP and Sheikh Hasina of Awami League (AL), who are both under investigation for corruption, are now in a position to participate in the poll. As neither has yet been convicted, they could conceivably contest their seats and one of them could become the next Prime Minister.
The EIU in its monthly report, however, said the caretaker government and the Election Commission (EC) need to overcome a number of obstacles in the weeks ahead to ensure that the polls are free, fair and credible.
It said the election would be regarded as free if members of all of the country's political parties are able to participate.
The recent decision by the caretaker government to grant bail to a number of important politicians, arrested as a result of its anti-corruption drive, has helped to fulfill its promise of a free election, it noted.
More importantly, the EIU said Khaleda Zia of BNP and Sheikh Hasina of Awami League (AL), who are both under investigation for corruption, are now in a position to participate in the poll. As neither has yet been convicted, they could conceivably contest their seats and one of them could become the next Prime Minister.