Gastright iterates US support to reform activities of govt
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed Wednesday said the main goal of the caretaker government (CG) is to hand over power to an elected government through holding a fair and acceptable general election within or ahead of the set deadline, reports UNB.
"The government will try to arrange the election, if possible, earlier than the set time limit to December 2008," he said during a discussion with the visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John A Gastright.
Fakhruddin made the remarks when the US Deputy Assistant Secretary wanted to know the caretaker government's goal during the meeting when he paid a courtesy call on the CA at his office in the afternoon.
The head of caretaker government -- which took over amid a political crisis over electoral issues -- made it clear that they are carrying out efforts and various reforms just not only to arrange election fairly but also to establish the rule of law and good governance in the country.
He said the government is taking steps not only for holding the next election fairly but also for setting high standards for future elections in the country. Registration of political parties and financial transparency are major demands of the public, he observed about the imperative of political reforms.
"A number of political parties are going to do reform within their parties," the CA told the US government emissary, who came with current politico-electoral affairs of Bangladesh high on his agenda.
Gastright said the United States supports and appreciates the caretaker government's activities, particularly institutional reforms as well as roadmap of the Election Commission, which has given a lot of confidence to the people.
He apprised the Chief Adviser that he was impressed with the performance of the Election Commission as he visited the EC and knew in detail about its five-point plan of action.
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State also appreciated the preparation of voter list with photograph.
He supported the necessity of time space for institutional reform and other necessary tasks to institutionalise the democracy in the country.
Replying to a question of Gastright, the CA said dialogues between the political parties and the Election Commission have been proceeding satisfactorily.
On business and investment, the Chief Adviser said this government is pro-business and pro-private sector. This government's initiative to form Better Business Forum has put positive impact as well as recent highest-level government interaction with the business community enhanced the confidence of business people.
Gastright mentioned that the army is helping the government in various fields, particularly maintaining law and order, disaster management and preparation of voter list with photograph.
Charge d' Affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka Geeta Pasi, Acting Political Economy Chief of the Embassy Heather Variava and Secretary of CA's office Kazi M Aminul Islam were also present during the meeting.
Meanwhile, John Gastright welcomes Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed's assurances that he and the army do not have any political ambition.
Speaking at a meeting with newspaper editors at the residence of the US Charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi, he also welcomed the relaxation of the ban on internal politics as an important step along the road towards restoration of full democracy and looked forward to further progress in this regard in the near future.
"I encouraged our friends in the government to remain committed to their reform agenda and also highlighted the interest of the international community in what was happening here in Bangladesh," said Gastright, who had consultation with major stakeholders.
Gastright had meetings with the chief adviser, the foreign adviser, the army chief, leaders of the business community and civil society on Tuesday and Wednesday, discussing the current affairs of Bangladesh in the interim period.
The US emissary, however, aired his government's concerns regarding human rights and due process for those detained under the state of emergency, whether on corruption charges or accused of other violations of the emergency rules.
"We realise that as Bangladesh moves closer towards a full democracy, outreach to the business community can assure stability; communication with the international community can provide assistance, and interaction with civil society and NGOs can provide accountability," he said.
And a vibrant and free media is also a crucial aspect in moving towards restoration of full democracy, he added.
Gastright, who was scheduled to meet representatives of political parties Wednesday night, said the parties have an important role to play in the future of Bangladesh, and he is pleased that the dialogue with the Election Commission on necessary reforms has begun.
Referring to his meeting with the chief election commissioner Tuesday, he said they discussed the implementation of the roadmap towards elections, and he reiterated the US willingness to assist.
"The government will try to arrange the election, if possible, earlier than the set time limit to December 2008," he said during a discussion with the visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John A Gastright.
Fakhruddin made the remarks when the US Deputy Assistant Secretary wanted to know the caretaker government's goal during the meeting when he paid a courtesy call on the CA at his office in the afternoon.
The head of caretaker government -- which took over amid a political crisis over electoral issues -- made it clear that they are carrying out efforts and various reforms just not only to arrange election fairly but also to establish the rule of law and good governance in the country.
He said the government is taking steps not only for holding the next election fairly but also for setting high standards for future elections in the country. Registration of political parties and financial transparency are major demands of the public, he observed about the imperative of political reforms.
"A number of political parties are going to do reform within their parties," the CA told the US government emissary, who came with current politico-electoral affairs of Bangladesh high on his agenda.
Gastright said the United States supports and appreciates the caretaker government's activities, particularly institutional reforms as well as roadmap of the Election Commission, which has given a lot of confidence to the people.
He apprised the Chief Adviser that he was impressed with the performance of the Election Commission as he visited the EC and knew in detail about its five-point plan of action.
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State also appreciated the preparation of voter list with photograph.
He supported the necessity of time space for institutional reform and other necessary tasks to institutionalise the democracy in the country.
Replying to a question of Gastright, the CA said dialogues between the political parties and the Election Commission have been proceeding satisfactorily.
On business and investment, the Chief Adviser said this government is pro-business and pro-private sector. This government's initiative to form Better Business Forum has put positive impact as well as recent highest-level government interaction with the business community enhanced the confidence of business people.
Gastright mentioned that the army is helping the government in various fields, particularly maintaining law and order, disaster management and preparation of voter list with photograph.
Charge d' Affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka Geeta Pasi, Acting Political Economy Chief of the Embassy Heather Variava and Secretary of CA's office Kazi M Aminul Islam were also present during the meeting.
Meanwhile, John Gastright welcomes Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed's assurances that he and the army do not have any political ambition.
Speaking at a meeting with newspaper editors at the residence of the US Charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi, he also welcomed the relaxation of the ban on internal politics as an important step along the road towards restoration of full democracy and looked forward to further progress in this regard in the near future.
"I encouraged our friends in the government to remain committed to their reform agenda and also highlighted the interest of the international community in what was happening here in Bangladesh," said Gastright, who had consultation with major stakeholders.
Gastright had meetings with the chief adviser, the foreign adviser, the army chief, leaders of the business community and civil society on Tuesday and Wednesday, discussing the current affairs of Bangladesh in the interim period.
The US emissary, however, aired his government's concerns regarding human rights and due process for those detained under the state of emergency, whether on corruption charges or accused of other violations of the emergency rules.
"We realise that as Bangladesh moves closer towards a full democracy, outreach to the business community can assure stability; communication with the international community can provide assistance, and interaction with civil society and NGOs can provide accountability," he said.
And a vibrant and free media is also a crucial aspect in moving towards restoration of full democracy, he added.
Gastright, who was scheduled to meet representatives of political parties Wednesday night, said the parties have an important role to play in the future of Bangladesh, and he is pleased that the dialogue with the Election Commission on necessary reforms has begun.
Referring to his meeting with the chief election commissioner Tuesday, he said they discussed the implementation of the roadmap towards elections, and he reiterated the US willingness to assist.