The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed here yesterday reaffirmed his government's wish to create an environment where free, fair and credible polls would take place and that is positively by second week of December this year.

He said that the Election Commission had already announced the schedules of local government elections after successful registering of 80 million voters setting a positive instance towards the roadmap earlier drawn by his government.

"The Election Commission (EC) has drafted proposals for the electoral reform what is now awaiting nod from the President. Once okayed the proposals will become law and be enforced by the EC for resisting unwanted people from the race," Dr. Fakhruddin said while clarifying the initiatives taken for steady growth of democratic practices in the country.

He was addressing a colloquium of local dignitaries titled "National Dialogue for Restoring Democracy" as the chief guest at the auditorium of the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) this afternoon.

Adviser for Commerce and Education to the Caretaker Government Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman moderated the colloquium while Adviser for Local Government and Rural Development Anwarul Iqbal, Adviser for Communications Major General (Retd) Golam Quader and Adviser for Law AF Hasan Ariff accompanied the chief Adviser on the podium.

Chittagong District Administration hosted the colloquium where Divisional Commissioner in Chittagong Hossain Jamil delivered the speech of welcome. The Chief Adviser hoped that the poll campaigning would automatically come under stipulated framework as and when the election laws are enacted and enforced appropriately saying it is the absolute power of the EC either to qualify or disqualify the candidates.

He reminded that the existing government had neither love nor hatred for any political party. "We're not a party to any political group," he asserted.

Though the colloquium agenda was to seek opinions for smoother journey to the democracy, majority of the participants put focus on local utility and infrastructure problems and post-election violence. Only a handful of the participants voted for basic policy changes but for the continuation of this government's initiatives.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed pledged to form an expert committee to work out affordable solutions to the ongoing power and gas crisis in the port city saying, "Hopefully a committee will start working on the problems as soon as we get back to Dhaka."

He said that furnace oil-based rented power plant for the port city had been very much within the government's consideration as a short-term remedy to the crisis.

"The ongoing gas crisis forces us to look for alternative fuel for the power plants," he said admitting bleak scenario in the natural gas sector.

Discussing the sustainability of the democratic norms and practices the Chief Adviser said that the government would enact the 'Right to Information Act' soon for ensuring transparent and better governance, essential prerequisite for democratic growth.

He called upon all to show better tolerance to the lapses and shortcomings of this government what had to operate under many limitations and constrains apart from recalling its jurisdiction for bringing constitutional amendment.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed justified the city corporation and municipal polls ahead of the parliamentary polls saying it a move to give budding democracy a stronger foundation.

Nearly 40 of the 300 participants gave their opinions on various issues at the colloquium.

Earlier, the Chief Adviser joined a colloquium at Kashem Mahbub High School at Chandanaish in the morning.