The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed's participation at the 63rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has brightened Bangladesh image before the international community.

The Chief Adviser, in his weeklong visit to New York, USA, has clearly upheld country's firm stand for democracy, peace, food security and fight against hunger, poverty, and meeting the challenges of climate change, different deadly diseases including malaria and menace of terrorism at its all forms and manifestations.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, leaders of the international community and expatriate Bangladeshis appreciated Dhaka's active participation in different forums of the UN as a leader of the least developed countries.

They also praised Dr Fakhruddin and his caretaker government for announcement of a specific date of the general elections on December 18 in the country and implementation reform measures during last twenty one months for national development.

Ban Ki-moon praised the speech of Dr Fakhruddin at the roundtable on 'Africa's development' for covering almost all 'major issues of the continent'. While meeting the Chief Adviser on the sideline of the UNGA at his office in UN headquarters the UN Secretary General said that he was looking forward to visit Bangladesh in November next, when Dhaka could seize the opportunity to bolster its ties with the UN and its different bodies for the overall development of the country.

Ban Ki-moon commended the role of Bangladesh armed forces in the UN peacekeeping missions in Africa and other parts of the world.

While talking to this correspondent in New York, the expatriate Bangladeshis expressed their strong support to government's anti- corruption drive and reforms measures and hoped the next elected leadership would continue it as well. They also appreciated the announcement of the date of the general elections, which they described as a landmark along the path of democracy.

During his busy schedule, Dr Fakhruddin addressed the plenary of the UNGA, intervened the roundtables on food crisis, malaria eradication and development needs of Africa.

He attended receptions hosted separately by UNSG Ban Ki-moon and Mrs Ban Soon-taek and US President George Bush and Laura Bush.

Dr Fakhruddin exchanged views with the expatriate Bangladeshi community at a civic reception given in his honour and interacted with the New York based Bangladeshi journalists.

On the sidelines, the Chief Adviser also met Prime Minister of Kuwait and Nepal while Executive Director of UNFPA also called on him. During his meeting with Kuwaiti Prime Minister, the Gulf state assured him of financial support for the construction of the Padma Bridge.

During his interaction with expatriate Bangladeshis and New York based journalists, the Chief Adviser gave answers to a number of questions raised by them regarding country's politics, institutional reforms, development, transition to democracy and investment opportunities.

He gave a clear overview of the governments efforts Especially the successful completion of the huge task of the preparation of voter list with photograph, success in raising the food production against two consecutive floods and hurricane Sidr riding on the resilience of the common masses, and improvement in law and order across the country.

The CA was accompanied by Neena Ahmed, foreign adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Press Secretary to the CA Syed Fahim.