The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

US Ambassador James F Moriarty again said yesterday that holding free, fair and credible elections in Bangladesh would be difficult under the state of emergency.

About the much-debated upazila polls, envisaged before the next parliament election, the envoy, who is going to Washington for consultation shortly, remarked that the election commissioners are "doing a very good job".

In reply to a query after over an hour-long meeting with the Election Commission at its Secretariat in the afternoon, he told reporters, "It's difficult to hold credible elections while the state of emergency in place."

"I told all the commissioners to basically see how things are going with respect to the restoration of the democracy. As I am going back to Washington to talk at the end of this week, that's why I wanted to see how things are going," he said.

"It sounds like this that things are in a very good shape. I think the rules are pretty much done. The official lists have to be printed. They are moving forward as they are expected to do…."

Asked about the caretaker government's success in bringing the political parties in the dialogue as still some major parties are out of the dialogue, he said, "I think that this question is for the people of Bangladesh to answer. They will decide whether they (people) think this is a level playing field or not."

He said it looks like this that the election commission is acting in a good faith, and the government is trying to talk to the parties. "So these are very positive aspects."

The American Ambassador hoped that the political parties would play a role as the parties are needed to represent the wishes of the people of Bangladesh. "They need to be willing to bring the steps forward."

He observed that everybody in the country wants to see the holding of successful elections, particularly for the parliament in December.

Describing the elections as very much important, he said: "We want to do what we can to make a credible election; we hope that everything is in a stage and we are observing the elections."

Asked whether the United States would conduct any survey to verify the accuracy of the recently completed voter list, the US envoy said, "Actually we are doing a little bit, and up to now, we've found a very good result. I think it is, probably, the best voters' list of Bangladesh."

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda led the commission at the meeting, where election commissioners M Sohul Hussain and Brigadier General (rtd) M Sakhawat Hossain were present.

Terming the meeting courtesy call, Sohul Hussain told the reporters that the Ambassador wanted to know about the preparation of the Election Commission to hold the elections.

He said upazila elections would be held in the country under some relaxation of the emergency rules the way election to four city corporations and nine municipalities is being held on August 4 at the first go.