The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Visiting British Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Transport Jim Fitzpatrick, MP, on Thursday assured his government's full support for holding a free, fair and credible election in Bangladesh at the end of December this year.

"The UK supports the caretaker government for holding a credible poll in Bangladesh in December," the British junior minister told reporters after meeting Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his office on Thursday afternoon.

The UK minister further said the British Government and European Union wanted to see that free, fair and credible elections 'happen' in Bangladesh. "Elections in December will go ahead." He said the followed Monday's local body elections and was very pleased to see that people could exercise their rights of franchise in a free and fairly manner.

Parrying a question whether his country would support holding elections under the state of emergency, the British minister said, "We are keen to see that elections take place in Bangladesh. We want to do whatever is possible. UK supports the caretaker government for holding polls."

Fitzpatrick said both the caretaker government and the UK government want that elections do take place by December.

Commenting on the issue, the foreign adviser said that this government is absolutely firm to hold free, fair and credible elections. He said some provisions of the emergency were relaxed during Monday's elections.

Dr Iftekhar said he was unaware at what extent the emergency provisions would be relaxed during the upcoming national polls. "But we want to see that every Bangladeshi can go to polling booth and cast vote for the candidate of his/her choice," he added.