The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Army Chief of Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday asserted that the state of emergency would gradually be relaxed, saying it is quite obvious that emergency will not be in place ahead of election.

"It is the affair of the government to lift the state of emergency. Of course the government will relax it gradually," he told reporters at DOHS Community Centre where he wasregistered as voter. His wife Begum Nazneen Moeen also registered as voter, as a countrywide programme is underway for preparing a new voting roll ahead of next elections.

Asked about completion of the voters' list, General Moeen said the preparation of the list would complete by July, or, maybe, in August.

"I am sure it will complete."

After scrutiny, the voters' list will be finalised, said the army chief. The army is aiding the task of making photo voter list plus national identity card.

And after completion of the voters' list, the elections will be held as per announced roadmap of the election commission, General Moeen told the journalists, giving an outline of the transitional process.

"We want that election is held in accordance with the government and election commission's roadmap," he said, adding that it needs cooperation from all, including political parties, to hold the election.

On Wednesday, General Moeen U Ahmed said the army does not want to take over power and he also has no plan to be the country's president.

"No such situation has arisen in the country that warrants army takeover of power," Moeen said in an interview telecast on private satellite television Channel i on Wednesday night.

Channel i aired part of the interview for its talk show "Tritiyo Matra" in its prime time news bulletin. The full talk show will be aired at 7:50pm tomorrow (Saturday).

The army chief emphatically said he does not see any obstruction to holding the general election by December this year. He said the election even could be held before December if all work together.

On trial of the war criminals, Gen Moeen said they should be tried and it should have been done much earlier.

He observed that Bangladesh could proceed towards becoming a failed state if the state of emergency was not promulgated on January 11 last year.

On the situation before that, the army chief said, "I have never seen in my life even killing of an animal that way."

Asked if there is any possibility of army takeover of power, "I think no such situation has arisen in the country that warrants army takeover of power. Moreover, it is not correct to do it. In modern world, none will accept martial law."

Regarding the demand for the trial of war criminals, Moeen said, "We have to see why the trial could not take place in the last 36 years, why previous governments did not do it, why people did not speak on it, why the freedom fighters did not raise it."

In reply to a question, Gen Moeen said he has no plan to become the president or chief executive of the country.

"Since 1/11, you have seen all were thinking as if I were going to be the president, chief adviser or the chief executive. But nothing like that has happened as of now," the army chief said.

Asked how much respectful the government is towards rule of law since it has been said that whatever the verdict, the detained teachers and a student would be released, Moeen said the court will give judgment but the government has the right to pardon anyone or abide by the court verdict.

President Iajuddin Ahmed on January 11 declared state of emergency in the country to quell political violence between major political

parties over abortive parliamentary polls set for January 22 last year.

Then a caretaker government headed by former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed took the office on January 12 to stage a credible general election.

Fakhruddin Ahmed has reiterated elections will be held before the end of 2008.