The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The United Nations and the United Kingdom welcomed the Chief Advisor's address to the nation confirming that the general election would be held in the third week of December this year.

UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Ms Renata Lok Dessallien and outgoing British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury welcomed the Chief Advisor's statement while they were inaugurating the voter-registration electronic billboard at Shahbagh road crossing on Tuesday afternoon.

"People can feel confident after the Chief Advisor's address to the nation when he confirmed that the elections will be held before the end of 2008," Renata said.

She felt proud that 80 percent of voters have already been registered and hoped that the registration would complete by the deadline set in the electoral roadmap.

The UN executive praised the installation of the electronic billboard that will screen the progress of voter registration across the country and other information related to the much-orchestrated national elections, going to be held after disruption amid a political crisis in January 2007.

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury said the United Kingdom welcomed the Chief Advisor's statement as positive as it shows the intent and sincerity of the government to hold the polls in December. "You have now the election date, you also have progress towards the lifting of the emergency and the ban on indoor politics across the country," he said.

Choudhury said, "We're very much hopeful that everybody will take part in making the national project a success." Success will depend on everybody. It is not just one stakeholder that can deliver this. "We think lot of positive things in the Chief Advisor's speech and we hope things can move even further towards the milestone that everybody has so long been waiting for."

The British envoy also praised the voter-registration electronic billboard as fantastic achievement, first ever in Bangladesh, saying that the world will see "what you can achieve". He said UNDP, UK, EC and other donors funded the voter-registration programme and the electronic billboard.

The Light Animated Display of the Billboard was made by Rainbow Vision Ltd.

Secretary to the Election Commission Humayun Kabir and Director of the Voters Registration Project Shahdat Hossain Chowdhury were present on the occasion.