US hopes to see Bangladesh polls without emergency, says Moriarty
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
CHITTAGONG, Nov 4 (UNB): US Ambassador James F Moriarty said Tuesday his government hoped to see the holding of the upcoming elections in Bangladesh without emergency as they consider the December polls as a major step forward to democracy.
Appreciating the government steps to relax the emergency to some extent, he said, "It is a good sign."
The US diplomat made the observation while talking to the media after a meeting organised by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at a city hotel.
Giving special emphasis on the fourth 'D' - Decentralisation - he said decentralisation must take root in Bangladesh for strengthening democracy. The fourth D was a vital component of democracy as it was practised in the USA, he added.
The American envoy emphasised that Bangladeshis themselves had to decide "what sort of democracy suits them best".
He noted that in the USA, democracy was practised not only at the national level but also at the local level.
"But the people of Bangladesh must decide the future of their own country and the shape of their own society. No political system is perfect, and no two societies are exactly the same," the US ambassador told his audience underlining the need for homespun polity of each country.
In this context, he mentioned that in the recent years, the United States had supported programmes aimed at strengthening local governance capacity.
The envoy said, "The United States welcomes the initiatives begun by the caretaker government to strengthen local government and it looks forward to working with the next government to implement these reforms."
He was happy to visit the port city at a time when a US naval ship was paying a call at the seaport on the Bay of Bengal.
CCCI President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury chaired the function. Among others, president of the International Better Business Forum Mahmudul Islam and ex-FBCCI president Yusuf Abdullah Harun were present.
Appreciating the government steps to relax the emergency to some extent, he said, "It is a good sign."
The US diplomat made the observation while talking to the media after a meeting organised by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at a city hotel.
Giving special emphasis on the fourth 'D' - Decentralisation - he said decentralisation must take root in Bangladesh for strengthening democracy. The fourth D was a vital component of democracy as it was practised in the USA, he added.
The American envoy emphasised that Bangladeshis themselves had to decide "what sort of democracy suits them best".
He noted that in the USA, democracy was practised not only at the national level but also at the local level.
"But the people of Bangladesh must decide the future of their own country and the shape of their own society. No political system is perfect, and no two societies are exactly the same," the US ambassador told his audience underlining the need for homespun polity of each country.
In this context, he mentioned that in the recent years, the United States had supported programmes aimed at strengthening local governance capacity.
The envoy said, "The United States welcomes the initiatives begun by the caretaker government to strengthen local government and it looks forward to working with the next government to implement these reforms."
He was happy to visit the port city at a time when a US naval ship was paying a call at the seaport on the Bay of Bengal.
CCCI President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury chaired the function. Among others, president of the International Better Business Forum Mahmudul Islam and ex-FBCCI president Yusuf Abdullah Harun were present.