The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday reaffirmed his government's commitment for holding free and fair general elections within the stipulated time.

"We hope to do everything possible for the credible general elections on the basis of the experiences gathered from the recent city corporation and municipal elections," he said while explaining the issue of lifting emergency before elections.

The Chief Advisor reiterated his government's stand against corruption and firmly said that the move would go on in the days to come. Corrupt-suspects are coming out of the jail mostly upon bail granted by the High Court where government has little to do, he noted.

He was briefing the newsmen after first ever meeting of council of advisors at Chittagong circuit house yesterday afternoon. Adviser on Education and Commerce Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman was present on the occasion. Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Sayed Fahim Monayem was also present at the briefing session.

Speaking on the government's initiatives aimed at addressing the burning problems of the port city, the CA said that the meeting discussed wide range of issues and gave decisions on a number of subjects as short-term intervention while mid-term and long term schemes were very much under active consideration.

The meeting approved 20 million cubic feet gas supply for the port city .Of this, 10 million cubic feet would go for power generation while the rest for industries awaiting production.

A new company - Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company -has also been approved for dealing with gas supply to the port city alone.

50-megawatt furnace oil run rental power plant will be put into operation for addressing the power crisis of the port city. The government has approved required subsidy for the power plant project. Demand management has also been made a component of the generation shortfall makeup project, according to sources.

The meeting approved a project of setting up of two sluice gates at suitable points of the river Karnaphuli for solving city's water logging problem. Different public and local agencies have been advised to work together in this regard.

Six different projects of road constructions, improvement and maintenance in Chittagong region have been approved at the meeting apart from revival of a Taka 13000 million railroad project for the proposed Dohazari - Cox's Bazar - Ghumdhum route.

The modernisation proposal of the CPA's plant quarantine laboratory, Madunaghat water treatment plant, CDA's IT tower and seven more warehouse construction were also reviewed at the meeting.