The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU campus restive again: Action plan demanding release of Hasina, Khaleda

Dhaka University Teachers Association General
Secretary Dr Anwar Hossain opening a mass signature campaign
launched by the Pro-Awami League Chhatra League on the
campus demanding the release of Awami League Chief Sheikh
Hasina and her proper treatment ab

DU Correspondent

The situation on the Dhaka University Campus is turning explosivegradually over the release of the two party chiefs of BNP and Awami League and price-hike of essentials across the country.

Student organisations and the students of the university under the different banners are holding various protest programmes demanding the transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people by holding national elections.

They also opposed the visit of President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed to the campus to participate in two functions separately.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) hoisted black flag on the top of Arts Faculty building yesterday in protest against the visit of President and Chief Adviser to the campus and brought out a silent procession wearing black ribbon on their face as part of their protest programme demanding proper treatment and release of AL chief Sheikh Hasina.

Prof Anwar Hossain, general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers` Association, inaugurated the black badge- wearing programme on Friday saying that the political organisations should now play proper role to overcome from the present situation as our people have been facing hardship due to soaring prices of essentials.

He said the Dhaka University stood by the distressed people of the country in the past and demonstrate the same spirit again . The present caretaker government assured many good things for the people but failed to deliver any good to them ,he added.

BCL will launch a mass signature programme across the country soon in support of their demand, said Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, BCL DU Unit president adding they will continue the black badge-wearing programme until their demand was met.

Earlier, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) warned the government that they would go for simultaneous movement like that of 90s if the government did not pay heed to their demand.

"Our demand is the same. We want the return of democracy at any cost. we can go for simultaneous movement even with BCL," said Shafiul Bari Babu, general secretary of JCD at a press conference on Thursday.

He said if the government did not return power to the representatives of the people by holding election, they will launch tougher movement and topple the government through mass movement.

The government agencies are trying to create rift and division among the student organisations especially JCD and BCL so that the two organisations could not go for simultaneous movement, student sources said.

To make the plan a success, these agencies are giving hefty sum of money to some selected men of the organisations to create chaos on different pleas, the sources claimed.

Progotishil Chhatra Jote, an alliance of left-leaning organisations, staged a demonstration on the campus yesterday demanding bringing down the prices of essentials and launching of rationing system across the country for the survival of the common people.

Later, they held a rally at the main gate of the Arts Building and accused the government of creating the present uneasy situation in the country.

Besides, a section of teachers opposed the visit of the President to the campus on April 7 to attend 44th convocation of the university.

As convocation is a part of the academic calendar , two language veterans would receive honorary degree this time and they would not boycott the programme as a mark of "utmost respect for the two".

They also protested the coming of Chief Adviser to the campus on the occasion of Senate Building inauguration on April 10 remarking it is nothing but a "waste of money" as the construction work of the building has finished two years back.

Food crisis created artificially, says General Moeen : We will tackle the situation in 20 days

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed visiting a rice
godown adjacent to a city market at Kawranbazar yesterday.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday dismissed the propaganda that the nation was facing a crisis of rice.

"Where is the crisis? There is no crisis. Crisis has been created. Price has increased, but no crisis," he said while talking to journalists during a visit to city's main wholesale market of Karwan Bazar.

"An artificial crisis has been created," he said pointing his fingers to the abnormal price spiral of commodities, including the foodstuff, which allegedly manipulated by a section of unscrupulous businessmen.

Gen Moeen, who is backing the Caretaker Government as the top leader of the Armed Forces, opined that the people went on a panic buying of excess rice from the market.

"If one consumer buys four sacks of rice, a situation may crop up out of this pooling," he said and expressed the hope in an optimistic voice asserting, "Inshallah, there will be no problem, if we can tackle the situation within the next 20 days."

Seeking positive role from the media, the Army chief said it is the responsibility of all to stabilise the market prices. He advised the market association to monitor that same variety of rice is sold at the same price.

Gen Moeen said there is enough stock of rice with dealers. He viewed that there is no Indian rice--all of it is Bangladeshi rice."Millers are charging high, thereby causing the price hike."

The army chief expressed the optimism that this year there is going to be a good harvest of Boro rice.

About bumper production of potato, Gen Moeen said this year 80 lakh tons of potatoes were produced but there is capacity of preservation of only 20 lakh tons. He, advised people to change their food habit and eat rice along with potato everyday so that potato growers get fair price and be encouraged to cultivate potato next year too.

Director General of paramilitary BDR Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, whose force is engaged in rationing rice and some other essentials under OMS, also said there is sufficient rice in the country with a stock of three months' provisions.

He said the Boro production is likely to exceed 1.70 crore tones and there is no reason to be worried.

Rice prices unlikely to fall despite record boro prospect: Each kilogram of boro production costs Tk 25

Food line remains to be a familiar phenomenon in the
city now-a-days. The photo was taken from Nawabganj.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

In the wake of abnormal price hike, the outlets of open market sale (OMS) of rice have now become the last resort for poor and low-income group of people.

However, since the demand has gone beyond the supply, many of these people have not been getting rice waiting in long queues for hours.

On the other hand, prices of rice at retail market have now virtually become uncontrollable.

Noted economist and Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) president Prof Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman termed the price hike of rice everyday as a "profit-mongering attitude" of the rice traders.

"The rice traders have understood that the government has not enough stock of rice in hands, and fresh import of rice will take time," he said.

Moreover, they know if the government wants to import rice, it would have to pay high prices. "That's why the traders have raised the prices of rice taking advantage of the situation," he said.

Dr Kholiquzzaman said it is true that the prices of rice have increased in the international market. But, the rice which is now available in the markets was bought at lower prices earlier. "Since there is no adequate stock of rice in the hands of the government, it has become very difficult to control the rice prices in retail markets," he said.

The noted economist observed that the rice prices were unlikely to go down despite the bumper harvest of boro rice crops.

"After the harvest of boro paddy, supply of rice to the markets may slightly increase. Rice crisis may somewhat be offset. But, the price is unlikely to fall, because farmers spend more than Tk 20 for production of a kilogram of boro rice," he said.

Dr Kholiquzzaman said, it is impossible for farmers to sell their boro rice at lower prices. Farmers will not be interested to cultivate boro rice in the next season unless they get fair prices of their rice. So, consumers will subsequently have to buy rice paying more than Tk 25 for each kilogram of rice from retail markets. Since there is not enough money in the hands of poor and ultra-poor, many of they would not be able to afford to buy rice at Tk 25 per kg.

"So, the Government should take necessary initiatives to make rice available to these vast majority of poor people, if necessary, providing subsidies. Apart from OMS operation, the government should take necessary steps to strengthen the distribution system. The government may build up its food stock to cope with the crisis. It should also take necessary measures to procure rice from farmers at fair prices. Otherwise, traders or even farmers may tend to hoarding rice for making extra profits," he cautioned.

Meanwhile, rice prices went up again by Tk 20 to Tk 30 per maund at the Babubazar, Badamtoli, Moulvibazar, Chotokatra and Rahmatganj wholesale markets yesterday. Traders as usual complained of shortage in supply. Apart from the prices of red lentil, which have reached record high, prices of all kinds of edible oil and sugar have also gone up.

Rezia Begum and Sahera Khatun came from Jinjira to the city's Palassey Market yesterday to buy coarse rice at Tk 25 per kg from the OMS outlets. Five kilograms of rice allotted by the government cannot meet their demand as the number of the members in their families is comparatively high.

Sujit Saha is a security guard of Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University. His son Apurba studies at Nilkhet School. Since the school was closed yesterday Apurba went to the Nilkhet OMS Centre along with his father to buy more five kilograms of rice.

Abdul Quddus runs a mess at Azimpur. His mess members are the employees working at different shops. He also went to an OMS outlet to buy rice at lower price.

Iqbal, a CNG driver went to buy rice at the OMS outlet at Palassey Market. As he has to deposit a higher amount to the CNG owner for running the vehicle, Iqbal has become helpless after prices of rice have gone up in retail market.

On the other hand, dining charges at hostels of different colleges have gone up following the rice price hike in retail markets. Besides, the quality of food has substantially declined.

Apart from increasing the OMS outlets in the city, people, particularly the low-income group has urged the government to reduce the price of OMS rice as they have been facing great difficulties to buy one kilogram of rice paying Tk 25 at the OMS outlets.

CA addresses DCs: Help create poll atmosphere

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed addressing the
Deputy Commissioners' conference at International Conference
Centre at his office on Saturday. PID photo

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Saturday directed the deputy commissioners to start works at local level from now on to create an atmosphere in holding the next national elections.

"You have to start preparatory works at local level from now on to create a field in holding national elections," he said.

The Chief Adviser said this while inaugurating a four-day Deputy Commissioners (DCs) Conference- 2008 at International Conference Centre (ICC) at the Chief Adviser's Office here.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said the main objective of the government is to hold a free, fair and credible election by December this year and the Election Commission has so far made significant progress to this end.

In this context, he said the EC is holding dialogue with political parties and the members of civil societies on electoral reforms while the works for preparation of voter identity cards with photographs are progressing fast ahead of the elections.

The chief adviser directed the deputy commissioners to remain prepare to extend cooperation to the election commission to implement its works at field level.

"You (Deputy Commissioners) have to play an important role in preparation of electoral roll as well as maintaining law and order at field level to this end," he added.

Calling upon the DCs to discharge their responsibilities in a transparent and accountable manner maintaining professionalism, he said, "Your accountability to the state, people, law and constitution have to be beyond question," he added.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said as a servant of the republic you (DCs) have to uncompromising in projecting patriotism, honesty and neutrality by attaching utmost importance on people's welfare.

"You have to remain alert in implementing government pledges and objectives," he said sounding a note of caution that any negligence to implement the objectives would not be accepted.

Listing different programmes undertaken by the government, he said the present caretaker government after assuming office has been working relentlessly to hold a free fair and credible election as well as ensuring a sustainable democratic environment.

He said the government is also working sincerely for establishing good governance by attaching importance on transparency and accountability at all levels of administration. Referring to price hike of essential commodities, he said price spiral of some agricultural goods has created some unusual situation in public life. In this connection, he said the government has taken all possible measurers to face the situation.

The Chief Adviser said steps have been taken to import foodgrains at government and private sectors, taxes on some most important goods have been withdrawn while measures have also been taken to procure Boro rice during the upcoming season.

Besides, open market sale (OMS) programmes of rice and other essential commodities have been expanded across the country and fair price shops have been opened by the BDR and Ansar in the country to keep the price of essentials within tolerable level.

The Chief Adviser said the government has also taken massive programmes to expand social safety net. It has also expanded VGF and VGD programmes in a massive scale in the Sidr and flood affected areas.

He asked the local administration to remain vigil to ensure smooth supply and distribution of these goods among the poor and vulnerable people.

Putting emphasis on increasing agricultural production aimed at keeping price of essential commodities at a tolerable level, he called upon the district administrations to pay special attention on boosting production in agri-sector.

He asked them to ensure smooth supply of agri-inputs including fertiliser, water and power to this end. "You have to ensure every single inch of land is cultivated," he said.

The Chief Adviser drew attention to the DCs to make the existing land system more modernise, accountable and dynamic and said the district administrations have taken effective steps in protecting government " Khas land" as well as rivers, open water bodies and haors for the sake of healthy environment.

Referring to various demands of the deputy commissioners, the Chief Adviser said the government is taking effective measurers to solve various problems at districts and upazila levels regarding vehicles and others logistics.

He said the government is considering to allocate mobile phones for the Upazila Nirbahi Officers working at field level.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed expressed the hope that the efforts of all level officials in the administration would be further expedited aimed at building a knowledge-based society free from hunger, poverty and corruption.

Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder gave welcome address at the inaugural function.

Among others, Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi Md. Hafizur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj Ataur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Bandarban Abdul Mazid Shah Akond and Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira Md. Kefayetullah addressed the function.

Advisers of the caretaker government, Special Assistants to the Chief Adviser and high civil and military officials attended the conference.

DC's confce cut short by a day

UNB, Dhaka

A four-day Deputy Commissioners' conference that began on Saturday in the capital has been cut short by a day for "unavoidable circumstances".

According to an official handout, the conference will now conclude on April 7 at noon.

Earlier in the day yesterday, Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed inaugurated the meet at the International Conference Centre (ICC) at the Chief Adviser's Office complex, making a call for the local administrations to get down to preparatory work for holding the stalled national elections.

Release of Khaleda, Hasina on parole a remote possibility

Staff Reporter

The possibility of release of detained BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on parole before completion of trial of their cases is remote, it is reliably learnt.

Informed sources said that a news item published in this regard in a section of newspapers is not based on facts.

The sources said, at one point soon after the declaration of emergency there was a move to allow the two former premiers to stay abroad in order to help them avoid facing legal hurdles for their involvement in corruption, but that opportunity no longer exists now after the start of corruption cases against them.

They said comparison of the cases of Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina with that of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was released in 1969 by the then Ayub regime to take part in a roundtable conference, is not relevant because the case against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a political case in the backdrop of a political movement countrywide. In the present situation both these leaders failed to maintain the political process. And the allegations against them is corruption in the backdrop of rampant corruption under their leadership .

Highly placed sources have it that their release on parole is possible only after the completion of trials against them pending before the court and that also not for political dialogue. The political dialogue with Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina cannot have any meaningful purpose as because they both have failed to give political leadership. Yet, baseless speculations are circulating for raising false hopes for reviving past politics for the benefit of corrupt ones.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddique told The New Nation that he has no such information on this.

Asked whether there is any option to release the two premiers to help the process of political dialogue, he replied in the negative saying, "No such option is there in the Jail Code."

Wage discrimination of female restaurant workers in UK

Staff Reporter

The British citizens of Bangladesh descent at a seminar in the city presented an observation report in which they claimed that the Bangladeshi restaurant owners discriminate between Bangladeshi irregular male and female workers in wages.

The Bangladeshi businessmen in the UK take excess money for sponsoring one-year work permit. Besides, these hapless migrant workers, especially female workers were exploited sexually on their arrival in the UK.

The self-financed Bang-ladeshi undergraduate and graduate students having enrolment in colleges in the UK were facing discrimination and cannot continue their studies.

The third generation Bangladeshis in the UK are unwilling to visit their ancestral home.

These findings, among others, were highlighted at the seminar on 'Emotional Linkage of Bangladeshi Origin 3rd Generation in the UK with Bangladesh: A Participant Observation' organised by Bangladesh Data Management and Research Centre (BDMRC) at the National Press Club yesterday.

To raise the emotional bond of the third generation to Bangladesh, every parent should teach their children some good aspects of Bangladesh along with the necessity to learn Bengali language and culture, as Bangladesh is their country of origin, the expatriates opined.

Prof Dr John Clammer, Adviser to the Rector of United Nations University of Tokyo in Japan, presided over the session, while Prof Dr M Mazharul Islam, Chairman of Statistics Department of Dhaka University, Prof Dr M Nurul Islam, among others, spoke. Md Aminul Islam Monju, researcher and Chief Executive of BDMRC, presented keynote speech.

As remittances of Bangladeshi migrants play a vital role in the Bangladesh economy, Bangladesh government should take special care to ease the process for receiving remittances from abroad, said the expatriates.

The survey also showed that a high growth rate of higher education exists among those expatriate children whose parents spend much time in looking after their children's education.

DU convocation tomorrow

BSS, Dhaka

The 44th convocation of Dhaka University (DU) will be held on Monday at its central playground.

A total of 3,885 graduates, including 2,042 female and 1,843 male students, will receive their certificates at the convocation.

The DU authorities will award 67 gold medals to 52 students for their outstanding academic performances on the occasion.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, who is also the Chancellor of the university, will chair the function.

The convocation will be attended by advisers of the caretaker government, representatives from the foreign missions in Bangladesh and other dignitaries.

Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin will attend it as the convocation speaker.

The DU authorities have decided to confer Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degrees on two language heroes---Gaziul Haque and Abdul Matin---at the convocation, the fifth since the independence of the country.

While exchanging views with reporters today, DU Vice- Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz said that the two language veterans would be awarded with honorary degrees for their outstanding contributions towards establishing Bengali as the state language through the 1952 movement.

The total cost of the convocation has been earmarked at Taka 62 lakh, DU Treasurer Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad said.

Classes and examinations scheduled for Monday have been postponed and fresh dates for the examinations will be announced soon.

A colorful procession will be brought out from the Curzon Hall of the university at the beginning of the convocation.

Graduates and guests of the convocation have been asked to take their seats at the venue by 9:15 am on Monday.

There will be separate entrances to the venue for the graduates and guests, who will not be allowed to carry cameras, cellphones or handbags.

Security measures have been stepped up on the campus for the high-profile programme.

Anti-poverty scheme: Govt officials, civil society men meet April 8

UNB, Dhaka

Government officials, academics and civil society representatives will meet here on April 8 to launch a new project aimed at better understanding the long-term effects of anti-poverty interventions in the country.

The project, "What Development Interventions Work? The Long-Term Impact and Cost Effectiveness of Anti-Poverty Interventions in Bangladesh," will focus on the long-term impact of three interventions-microfinance, new agricultural technologies, and food/cash transfers for education-on the livelihoods of poor people in the country.

The project will also compare the cost effectiveness and implementation of each of these interventions. While many evaluations have assessed

the short-term effectiveness of such interventions, relatively little is known about their long-term impact or their relative cost effectiveness.

The research is led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC), in partnership with the Data Analysis and Technical Assistance (DATA) Ltd., and is funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The project builds on IFPRI data collected during the 1990s on the impact of the three interventions on 1,787 households in rural Bangladesh. By resurveying these original households a decade later, the study analyzes and compares the long-term impacts of these anti-poverty interventions.

Additionally, household members shared their personal stories of how these interventions affected their lives and whether they were able to move out of poverty.

"Returning to these villages ten years later, it is clear that many people have experienced vast improvements in their livelihoods," said Agnes Quisumbing, IFPRI senior research fellow and lead researcher of the project. "This new research will help identify the role of anti-poverty interventions in achieving this progress." During the past ten years, Bangladesh has experienced impressive reductions in poverty. The percentage of the population living in poverty fell from 51 percent in 1995 to 40 percent in 2005, and there have been substantial improvements in the nutritional status and school enrollment levels of the poor. However, poverty remains a challenge with more than 50 million people currently living in extreme poverty.

Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative research, the project will address some key questions what are the long-term effects of the three interventions on per capita consumption, nutritional status, and school enrollment, especially among females, what is the effect of each of the interventions on physical and human capital assets and what underlying approaches at the household, community and national levels have contributed to the success or failure of these interventions.

"This research is innovative and unique among evaluation and poverty reduction studies in Bangladesh." said Bob Baulch, coordinator for the poverty dynamics and economic mobility theme at the Chronic Poverty Research Centre, and co-leader of the project. He said "By integrating and sequencing quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will provide a unique perspective on the impact of these interventions from the individual to the community level." The findings are intended to enable policymakers, donors, and other stakeholders to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of different interventions, compare their impact and cost-effectiveness, and contribute towards the design of future anti-poverty programs in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.

"The Government of Bangladesh has shown a remarkable willingness to evaluate the effectiveness of its anti-poverty programs, confront their short-comings, and cancel or modify programs as a result," said Akhter Ahmed, IFPRI senior research fellow and a key member of the research team. "This study will analyze the policy processes and implementation of these efforts."

Offshore Gas Exploration: British firm gets nod from Petrobangla

Staff Reporter

British Energy firm, Cairn Energy plc, has given approval to conduct seismic survey for offshore gas exploration in the Bay of the Bengal.

The company is preparing for a three dimensional seismic survey of the Magnama and Hatiya structures in the Bay, Petrobangla official said to the media.

"Any further commercial activity will be decided following the outcome of the seismic survey," said the official.

The British energy firm earlier had discovered the presence of gas within the structures and sought permission to further appraise potential reserves and identify drilling spots.

"Cairn owns the right to explore gas and oil in the offshore block 16 of the Bay, 60 km (38 miles), south of the port city of Chittagong. It started drilling and surveying in the 150 square km area last October," Petrobangla official added.

Cairn is also the operator in Bangladesh's sole offshore field at Sangu.

Petrobangla, the state-run Oil, Gas, and Mineral Corporation of Bangladesh has estimated potential gas reserves of 3.5 trillion cubic feet at Magnama and 1.8 trillion cubic feet at Hatiya.

Uproar over Mahbub's remark

BBC Online

A reception to distinguished persons in the city was marred by uproar when Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, member of BNP standing committee, uttered remarks not acceptable to the audience at the National Press Club yesterday.

In a chaotic atmosphere, Rural Journalist Foundation (RJF) awarded Gold medals to more than 30 recipients, including freedom fighters, language movement hero, politician, economist and social workers.

The RJF arranged the reception and a discussion on "Our Responsibility in Preserving Independence and Sovereignty."

Abul Hashem Hawlader patron of the RJF chaired the function. Chief guest former minister Air Vice Marshal (Retd) AK Khondakar Bir Uttam, Deputy Chief of Liberation Forces, special guests Kader Siddiqui, Bir Uttam, of Bangladesh Sramik League, former chiefs of the Army, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahabubur Rahman and Lt Gen (Retd) Harun-ur Rashid, among others, attended the ceremony.

The audience jeered at Gen Mahbubur Rahman when he said, "Our previous Governments were ineffective and to preserve our sovereignty and freedom all parties should unite including the Jamaat-e Islami."

They demanded his expulsion from the conference room in strong voice. However, the BNP leader did not leave the place or apologise for his remark.

In his inaugural speech Kader Siddiqui referred to the Jamaat-e Islami as Razakar (collaborators). He said, "I should not have referred to Jamaat as traitors, had they not taken the side of Pakistan overtly during the Liberation War."

"They are cowards and abominable," he added. He further referred to Jatiya Muktijoddha Parishad as an organisation of Razakars and suggested Sector Commanders to keep an eye on their conspiracy.

Chief Guest AK Khondaker said, "Preserve democracy with the same spirit that we showed at the time of the Liberation War."

He also assured the audience that the war criminals would be punished.

Meanwhile, The family members of freedom fighter Rakhal Chandra Saha, who would be hanged on Monday, requested the Government to commute his death sentence.

SM Zohirul Islam, the founder chairman of the RJF, urged the Government to withdraw all litigations against journalists.

Modalities for dialogue with political parties being worked out

UNB, Dhaka

Modalities of the government-sponsored dialogue with political parties, expected sometime this month, are now being set for a focused discussion on the issues, the press secretary to the Chief Advisor said Saturday.

"Modalities are being worked out," Syed Fahim Munaim told UNB. Although a firm date of the dialogue has not yet been finalized, he said, hopefully it will start this month.

Asked if detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina will be allowed to join the proposed dialogue, the press secretary said the modalities would determine every detail as to who will participate, whether it would be together with all parties or separately.

Meanwhile, IANS from Brussels yesterday reported that Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told a meeting with prestigious Belgium think-tanks that the caretaker government intends to begin the political dialogue within two weeks.

"It is our primary goal, indeed our constitutional obligation, to hold free, fair and credible elections. The response from all political parties and the public has been very positive," said Chowdhury.

He said over 50 million voters had been registered and the voters' cards-the most sophisticated in the world-would also serve as national identity cards.

"So far, everything is on track. What is left, however, is a dialogue with the political parties," the Advisor said.

Meanwhile, major political parties, including Awami League and BNP, welcomed the much-awaited dialogue aimed at removing all mistrust and distrust about the December parliamentary elections. The parties said they would raise the issues of release of the two detained former Prime Ministers, lifting the state of emergency and bringing down the sky-high prices of commodities.