The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has said it is the respective political parties, of Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina to decide whether they will continue to participate in politics. The Government has nothing to do in this matter, he said.

It was speculated that the two leaders during their release agreement undertook that they would not participate in the coming election and would not allow their party leaders who had amassed black money and resorted to terrorism to participate in the December 18 Polls.

Fakhruddin denied his government had struck a compromise deal with political parties and corrupt lobby under which all politicians facing graft charges were bailed out.

There was widespread speculation that the two top leaders of the two major parties had to obtain their release on some behind the scene 'arrangements'. What could be the points of the 'arrangements' are hard to imagine. Deferring of Hasina's returning home on the issue of treatment and her personal physician's emphasis on that and Begum Zia's cautious steps and statements are reinforcing the speculation that there might have been some 'behind the scene 'arrangements.'

Political analysts, of course, are of the view that if there were some such arrangements those would gradually surface with the moves of the two leaders and the government's response towards them. "Now it is time to wait and see" they opined.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said his caretaker government did not violate the Constitution through a lengthy stay in power and cited the High Court verdict settling this matter.

He made the observations when asked by journalists from the Bangladeshi media based in the US city about the lengthy clinging to power by the caretaker government and prolonged emergency rule in the country.

Referring to the decisions of the High Court that has disposed of the matter, he said, "We did not violate the Constitution. The caretaker government was formed as per provision of the Constitution."

The present caretaker government was installed after the 1/11 (2007) changeover in state power through military intervention amid a serious political crisis over the issues of general election, which was eventually cancelled.

With an avowed aim of ridding the country of such problem, the interim regime launched a clean-up drive and carried on massive reforms, particularly in legal and politico-electoral arena before going to the next polls. A good number of high-profile persons were arrested amid a continuing anti-graft drive.

Asked for his comment regarding Tarique Rahman's physical problem due to torture in custody, he said he does not know about it. "The authority concerned has replied to questions over the matter."

Regarding bail to the suspected corrupt individuals, he said, "Once the government was criticized as bail was not given by the judicial department and now it is being commented that the government has understanding with the judiciary."

Replying to questions during interaction with Bangladeshi local media in New York at Hotel Helmsley on Thursday afternoon, the head of the caretaker government categorically said that the government had not got any understanding with the judiciary.

Dr Fakhruddin said, everybody would be tried under the due process of law of the land. "To ensure due process of law, higher court gives decision and we are obeying it."

He hoped that the independent and efficient Anti-Corruption Commission would carry on its activities against the corrupt.

On political parties' reform, he said political reforms cannot be forcibly imposed-it has to be done through a process. "Registration of political parties has been made mandatory, which was not in force previously.

To a question over government decision on rail communications between Bangladesh and India and promotion of army officials, he said those were the matters of administrative decisions that he thought did not require any ratification in parliament.

He however, said those laws have been promulgated as Ordinance that would be placed in next parliament for their ratification.

Replying to another question as to whether the caretaker government's popularity is on the decline, the CA said never did they think of testing their popularity rather took decisions and carried out works for national and people's interest keeping in mind the question of accountability.

He however said some decisions or works of the government may create adverse reaction.

Replying to another question, the Chief Adviser said the government has worked with an honest aim, and if the laws are made with good intentions, the future parliament would ratify those.

Regarding consensus on national issues, he said discussion might be continued further with political parties to have consensus on some national issues.

On the much-talked-about general election, which was earlier stalled amid a political crisis, a smiling Fakhruddin said, "You have to wait for that date of election (December 18) as I have now nothing to say to assure you over the matter. I have spoken repeatedly since assumption of office about holding election within the announced timeframe."

Replying to a question, he told the expatriate journalists that the government looks upon all mass media equally. He termed journalism the mirror of society which acts as a bridge between the government and the people.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, Ambassador to the USA M Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ismat Jahan were also present at the briefing.