The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, London

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has said the main motto of his administration is to hold free and acceptable parliamentary polls by the set deadline as no one wants to return to the nightmarish days before January 11 2007.

"More than half of the voter list has been prepared, election rules and regulations are at the final stage and we're going to have a free, fair and credible election," he told a meeting with representatives of the Bangladeshi community at Baden Powell Assembly Hall here Sunday evening.

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Dr Ahmed, now in London on a 3-day official visit after attending the 11th summit of the OIC at Dakar, said his government is working hard to establish sustainable democracy, fundamental rights of the people and coexistence of all religious faiths through various reforms.

He said the expatriate Bangladeshis will be enlisted as voters and assured that his administration will remove any complicacy over having the double citizenship.

On the controversy over the National Women Development Policy, the Chief Adviser said his government has no intention to frame any law that will go against holy Quran and Sunnah.

About holding trial of the 1971 war criminals, he said although he wants the trail of the war criminals but no government in the past had done it. Because of time constraint, he said, it will not be possible for the incumbent government to initiate the process as too many things still need to be done.

On the soaring prices of essentials, the Chief Adviser admitted that the low income group people have been hit hard by the price-hike caused by record high prices of petroleum and food on the international market.

He said there is no alternative to boosting agriculture production to face the situation. Realizing the fact, he said the government has focused on smooth supply of fertilizer and uninterrupted irrigation to enhance the food production.

As the Chief Adviser arrived here, BNP London chapter organized protests outside the Baden Powell Assembly Hall and Awami Juba League outside Dorchester Hotel, where he is staying, demanding release of Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

Dr Ahmed said his government is to bring to justice those who are accused of corruption. He said a strategy paper is being prepared to stop massive corruption in the future.

Bangladesh High Commission to London Shafi U Ahmed made welcome remarks at the meeting. Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury was present.

The Chief Adviser praised the contributions of the expatriate Bangladeshi community to socioeconomic and political development in the UK as well as to Bangladesh economy through their remittances.

He said the country eared a record amount of $ 700 million in remittance in January this year while a record number of Bangladeshi workers left for overseas job last year.

Dr Ahmed said the government is trying to implement the recommendations made at the first NRB conference in Dhaka to ensure the Non-Resident Bangladeshis' participation in the economic development of Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser hoped that the existing excellent relations between Bangladesh and Britain will be further flourished with the pro-active role to be played by the Bangladeshi community in Britain.

During his 45-minute engagement with the Bangladeshi community leaders, the Chief Adviser gave a resume of reforms so far done in administrative, financial and judicial sectors.

He said a Local Government Commission will be set up to see how to expand the financial authority and decentralise power through the local government bodies, which are important for strengthening the base of democracy.

The Chief Adviser also said a Judicial Commission is going to be set up to appoint efficient judges to the High Court with the approval of the President to ensure justice for the people.

Dr Ahmed also mentioned the separation of the judiciary from the executive, reconstitution of the Public Service Commission, University Grants Commission and forming Regulatory Reforms Commission, Rights to Information Act and Consumers Right Act which are also designed to make the government accountable and transparent for sustainable democracy and betterment of the people.