Govt hopes to end all local polls by October: Hossain Zillur
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
The government will not fight with the political parties over the elections to the local government bodies which it hopes to complete by October, Education and Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said Monday, reports bdnews24.com.
"The government will not engage in any conflicts with the political parties over the elections; it will end holding of all local polls within October," Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told journalists after meeting with Communications and Public Works Adviser Ghulam Quader.
The education adviser said the government was ready to do anything to resolve any deadlock because of misunderstanding over any issues.
"To create a congenial atmosphere prior to the national polls, the local government elections will be held, which will, hopefully, generate general trust and a sense of well-being across the country," he said.
"Though the political parties will not be contesting the local government polls directly, the grassroots-level leaders of different parties will run for the local government positions - at least that's how these polls pull through, (that's what) we've seen in the past."
"These elections are not being held to enable any select people to assume any chosen chair at the local levels. The local-body polls should be quite transparent."
Calling upon the political parties to participate in the forthcoming elections, Dr Rahman said the polls would be held as per the 'democratisation roadmap' announced by the government.
Asked to comment on certain political parties' vowing to boycott and resist the polls, the adviser said, "Well, I guess the government's efforts to dispel the negative culture of resisting (the democratic process) will see success through holding these elections."
Asked if the emergency should be lifted soon, he said, "The emergency may be lifted in phases, which is the rational approach in this case."
The adviser said the emergency rule would be relaxed at places on the eve of the local government polls and measures would be taken prior to the national polls.
Asked why the government is taking so long to release former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her sons Tarique and Arafat Rahman from prison, Mr Hossain Zillur said, "We're working on the legal tangles to handle the matter smoothly. Every piece will fit into the right slots in phases."
On the regional dialogue, the adviser said, "The regional dialogues will be starting on June 28 in Chittagong, where two working sessions will be held with the rural and urban delegates. The Chief Adviser will attend both the sessions."
"The government will not engage in any conflicts with the political parties over the elections; it will end holding of all local polls within October," Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told journalists after meeting with Communications and Public Works Adviser Ghulam Quader.
The education adviser said the government was ready to do anything to resolve any deadlock because of misunderstanding over any issues.
"To create a congenial atmosphere prior to the national polls, the local government elections will be held, which will, hopefully, generate general trust and a sense of well-being across the country," he said.
"Though the political parties will not be contesting the local government polls directly, the grassroots-level leaders of different parties will run for the local government positions - at least that's how these polls pull through, (that's what) we've seen in the past."
"These elections are not being held to enable any select people to assume any chosen chair at the local levels. The local-body polls should be quite transparent."
Calling upon the political parties to participate in the forthcoming elections, Dr Rahman said the polls would be held as per the 'democratisation roadmap' announced by the government.
Asked to comment on certain political parties' vowing to boycott and resist the polls, the adviser said, "Well, I guess the government's efforts to dispel the negative culture of resisting (the democratic process) will see success through holding these elections."
Asked if the emergency should be lifted soon, he said, "The emergency may be lifted in phases, which is the rational approach in this case."
The adviser said the emergency rule would be relaxed at places on the eve of the local government polls and measures would be taken prior to the national polls.
Asked why the government is taking so long to release former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her sons Tarique and Arafat Rahman from prison, Mr Hossain Zillur said, "We're working on the legal tangles to handle the matter smoothly. Every piece will fit into the right slots in phases."
On the regional dialogue, the adviser said, "The regional dialogues will be starting on June 28 in Chittagong, where two working sessions will be held with the rural and urban delegates. The Chief Adviser will attend both the sessions."