The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Lifting embargo on indoor politics across the country from today, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday announced that the general elections would be held any day in the third week of December this year.

He said the formal dialogue between his Government and political parties would begin from May 22, while the relevant rules of the state of emergency would either be relaxed or deleted at appropriate time in order to create an atmosphere congenial for the general elections that would allow free movement of political leaders and activists before the polls.

The Election Commission (EC) will announce the specific schedule of the general elections, as per its polls-roadmap, while the Caretaker Government will take all necessary measures to implement the EC's announcement, he added.

Announcing this in an Address to the Nation, the Chief Adviser stressed the need for mapping out a National Charter for the political and economic leap forward of the country on the basis of consensus between all political parties, the professional bodies and the Government through discussion before the polls.

"The National Charter will ensure the stability of the next elected Government that would have a balance of power between all constitutional posts of the Republic, the establishment of sustainable democracy and an effective accountable Parliament, unhindered national development and progress, creating an atmosphere of cooperation between all parties instead of enmity," he said, seeking cooperation of all political parties, professional bodies, conscious citizens and the people as a whole.

"This is the expectation of the whole nation that all political parties, whose main purpose is to develop the country, will agree on a National Charter through discussion saying good bye to disruptive programmes like hartals, blockades and confrontational street agitations," Dr Fakruddin said, adding, "The National Charter will give a legal cover to the political, administrative and institutional reforms carried out the present Caretaker Government that would not exist anymore after the year end."

Listing the institutional reforms carried out by his Government during the last 16 month after the January 11 (2007) changeover, including the Separation of Judiciary from the Executive, the reorganisation of the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Chief Adviser said all steps of his Government was aimed at holding a free, fair and credible general elections that would be free from black money, muscle power and confrontational politics.

He stressed the need for carrying forward the anti-corruption drive, saying, "The nation will never know the length of corruption in which it was in if the Caretaker Government did not launched the anti-graft campaign."

Noting that the EC has already mapped out an Elections Code of Conduct and updated the electoral laws on the basis of its discussion with political parties and different professional and citizens' bodies, he said his Government would soon promulgate specific legal instruments, including rules and regulations on those.

"These will call for reforms of political parties, including their democratisations and an end to the practice of front organisations, which had become instruments for narrow partisan politics," he said, pleading to the political leaders to bring about reforms to their respective political parties before the general elections, so that the country could never return to the pre-January 11 politics of confrontations.

Dr Fakhruddin said the EC, as per its roadmap, has already announced its plans to hold elections to the City Corporations, some paurashava and upazilas. "This local elections will create the proper and congenial atmosphere for the general elections and the local body polls would in no way affect the holding of the general elections within third week of December," he asserted.

Terming holding the general elections as the main task of his administration, he said, "All activities of the Caretaker Government were aimed at ensuring the holding of a free, fair and credible elections, for which a correct voters' list was not only necessary it was the demand of all the political parties."

The Chief Adviser said over six crore correct voters' list with photographs had already been prepared and rest would be prepared on time. He thanked the voters, the EC, the Army and the people as a whole for this achievement.

Referring to the background of the January 11 (2007) changeover, he said the politics of narrow partisan interests and erosion of rule of law, reduction of law and order and politicisation of the administration led to the confrontational and anarchic situation.

Making a clarion call to all concerned, including the leaders of political parties to cooperate with his Government and each other to accomplish its prime task-the holding of general elections, the Chief Adviser pointed out that the country this year had a bumper harvests in Boro, potato and wheat cultivation.

"And this (bumper harvests) proved that what we can achieve as a nation if we remain united and cooperate with each others," Dr Fakhurddin said, urging the political parties to join the formal dialogue with open mind. "The Government has no agenda for the formal dialogue," he asserted, expressing the hope that the political leaders would join the talks with the spirit to lead the nation to progress, development and a sustainable democracy.

He expressed gratitude to the farmer, the people, the political parties and professional groups for the achievements of the country during the tenure of his Government.