The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday made it clear that his Government has no 'secret understanding' with any of the political parties.

Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Convenor Dr Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi disclosed this after his party's dialogue with the Caretaker Government. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed attended the meeting at his office as the leader of the Government delegation.

The PDP, (known as a 'king's party',) chief told a joint briefing after the dialogue that the Chief Adviser made the clarification as his party sought clear official stance over the speculations involving the Government's negotiations with the Awami League (AL), which created confusions that the interim administration entered into some sorts of dealings with the party.

Dr Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi said they (PDP) asked openly at the dialogue about people's perception that the present interim government had 'understanding' with a certain political party-AL.

He quoted Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed as telling his party leaders that "The Caretaker Government has no secret discussion with any political party".

The head of Caretaker Government once again assured that the next general election would be held transparently following the set roadmap.

In this context, Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, who is the Government spokesperson in the ongoing dialogue, told the press briefing that they want to clearly state that the present Government wants to advance as per the polls-roadmap, involving all political parties as part of the Government's principles.

"We want to create a level playing field for healthy competition of political parties in the elections," he said.

To a question about specific Government principles, Dr Zillur said, "The reform of electoral rules, polls-roadmap, giving attention to people's demands for attaining the key objective of holding meaningful election, qualitative change in politics, and ensuring post-election stability."

He said the Caretaker Government wants to clear its perception to the people through informing them what the Government is doing.

Indicating threat of some major political parties to boycott or resist elections, PDP leader Qureshi said participation of voters is the only yardstick for election, not matter whether any political party participates or not.

He said the PDP believes that presently minimum 60 per cent of voters want to participate in the elections ahead as they got the people's pulse during talks with people across the country.

Replying to a question, Qureshi said an election would be acceptable if majority voters participate and cast vote, "notwithstanding any major political party participates or not".

"People are election-oriented and an election should be considered as credible by all if 60 per cent of voters are participate no matter whether any political party joins it or not," he said.

The newly floated party's chief thanked and congratulated the Caretaker Government for its strong steps to hold local-government elections and favoured holding all the local polls, including upazila elections, before the parliamentary polls.

He pointed out that it had been noticed in the past that political parties before all parliamentary elections had pledged to hold local elections, particularly upazila election, but they backtracked from after forming the government following the general elections.

"Big parties of the past will always remain big one-this is not correct," Dr Qureshi said pointing his fingers at the present political equations.

The PDP also proposed a change in the trend of permanent allocation of election symbols to the political parties, saying that rather the election commission should allocate election symbols afresh to political parties before each election.

Placing logic behind this proposition, they observed that voters only vote for a particular symbol, even not the party, without judging the worth of candidates.

The partly placed and discussed other proposals in the dialogue include addition of 100 national seats to the 300 parliamentary constituency-based seats and proportional allocation of seats to different political parties on the basis of overall results of national elections, listing out identified criminals and musclemen constituency-wise and hanging those lists in thanas and taking steps against them.

They also proposed that the anti-corruption drive should be carried on and trial process against those having specific corruption charges against them accomplished before the polls.

Regarding the PDP proposals like an additional 100 national seats and change in permanent allocation of election symbols, Dr Zillur said the Government wants to proceed discussing with all the proposals and new ideas.

Yesterday's sitting was the 16th dialogue sessions between the Caretaker Government and political parties and various stakeholder groups that began May 22 to pave the way for smooth transition into democracy.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed along with two Advisers concerned was present at the dialogue.

Dr Hossain Zillur informed that three advisers were absent for they were on visit abroad. Law Adviser Hassan Ariff and LGRD Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal are on official visit, while Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed for treatment.

The PDP Convenor led an eight-member delegation to the talks.

Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader and PDP leaders Noor Mohammad Khan, Abul Hassan Chowdhury, Maj Gen (retd) MA Rafiqul Hossain, Kamrunnahar Jafar, Col (retd) HMA Gaffar, Golam Sarwar Milon and Maj (retd) Riajul Islam were present at the dialogue and the joint press briefing.