Upazila election to be held before national poll : CA
Sunday, 29 June 2008
CHANDNAISH (Chittagong), June 28 (UNB): Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Saturday announced elections to Upazila Parishads would be held before general polls and urged the voters to turn out cent per cent in the local bodies' polls to choose their representatives.
Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said: "The Election Commission (EC) has decided to hold upazila elections ahead of the general election. We also want that. Inshallah, upazila elections will be held first."
The government wanted to hold the elections to establish a corruption-free society and ensure socio-economic uplift to improve the quality of life of the people, he said.
The Chief Adviser made the observation while speaking at a meeting of representatives of different professions dubbed as National Dialogue on Democratic Transition at Kashem Mahbub High School auditorium at Chandnaish in Chittagong Saturday.
Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman moderated the dialogue wherein representatives from various professions and groups like peasants, teachers, women, freedom fighters and businessmen took part in the dialogue.
LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader and Law Adviser AF Hasan Ariff were also present on the occasion.
DC Chittagong Ashraf Shamim made welcoming remarks. This is the first rural-level dialogue outside the capital under the regional dialogue initiative of the caretaker government.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said from now on the EC would organise all elections to elect the people's representatives while his government would extend all cooperation to ensure the elections were free from black money and muscle power.
He said the caretaker government wanted to hold free and fair general polls with participation of all political parties to ensure that the next elected government would further consolidate democracy, improve governance and enhance quality of livelihood through economic development.
"We're not counterparts of political parties. I've already said my Advisers and I will not take part in the elections nor remain in the
government. We want all parties' participation in the elections," he said.
Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said the present government that had assumed office with the prime objective to hold fair elections and transfer power to the elected representatives had been working to accomplish that agenda.
On elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities slated for August 4, the Chief Adviser said the Emergency Power Rules were eased to allow election campaigns through meetings and processions in the areas where votes will be held.
"From this first phase of election we want to gather experience so
all future elections could be organised properly," he told the audience.
About parliament elections, Dr Fakhruddin said the EC had announced that the polls would be held in the third week of December. He had also stated this in his last address to the nation.
He said preparations for the elections was at the final stage and
electoral roll of 80 million voters with their photos had been completed.
The representatives spoke about various local problems and development issues alongside their demand for upazila elections ahead of parliamentary polls.
Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said: "The Election Commission (EC) has decided to hold upazila elections ahead of the general election. We also want that. Inshallah, upazila elections will be held first."
The government wanted to hold the elections to establish a corruption-free society and ensure socio-economic uplift to improve the quality of life of the people, he said.
The Chief Adviser made the observation while speaking at a meeting of representatives of different professions dubbed as National Dialogue on Democratic Transition at Kashem Mahbub High School auditorium at Chandnaish in Chittagong Saturday.
Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman moderated the dialogue wherein representatives from various professions and groups like peasants, teachers, women, freedom fighters and businessmen took part in the dialogue.
LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader and Law Adviser AF Hasan Ariff were also present on the occasion.
DC Chittagong Ashraf Shamim made welcoming remarks. This is the first rural-level dialogue outside the capital under the regional dialogue initiative of the caretaker government.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said from now on the EC would organise all elections to elect the people's representatives while his government would extend all cooperation to ensure the elections were free from black money and muscle power.
He said the caretaker government wanted to hold free and fair general polls with participation of all political parties to ensure that the next elected government would further consolidate democracy, improve governance and enhance quality of livelihood through economic development.
"We're not counterparts of political parties. I've already said my Advisers and I will not take part in the elections nor remain in the
government. We want all parties' participation in the elections," he said.
Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said the present government that had assumed office with the prime objective to hold fair elections and transfer power to the elected representatives had been working to accomplish that agenda.
On elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities slated for August 4, the Chief Adviser said the Emergency Power Rules were eased to allow election campaigns through meetings and processions in the areas where votes will be held.
"From this first phase of election we want to gather experience so
all future elections could be organised properly," he told the audience.
About parliament elections, Dr Fakhruddin said the EC had announced that the polls would be held in the third week of December. He had also stated this in his last address to the nation.
He said preparations for the elections was at the final stage and
electoral roll of 80 million voters with their photos had been completed.
The representatives spoke about various local problems and development issues alongside their demand for upazila elections ahead of parliamentary polls.