The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Renata Lok Dessalien, who is also UN Resident Coordinator, at his office here on Monday afternoon. During an hour long meeting, they discussed different issues including the forthcoming elections.

Emerging out of the meeting, Ms. Dessalien told newsmen that she wanted to meet with the foreign adviser after the latter's return from attending the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss Bangladesh's overall participation in the session, which by all counts, was "significant".

She said they also discussed the forthcoming visit of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Bangladesh in early November which would be "important."

Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury discussed the impending visit of the Secretary General as a "landmark event in the relations between the UN and Bangladesh.

In response to a query if elections can be held under state of emergency, Ms. Dessalien said that the city and municipality elections were held peacefully under such a situation.

She said she was positive the government would devise a methodology whereby people can vote freely without intimidation and the parties can also have the freedom to conduct their campaigns unimpeded.

She further said the UN would most possibly send officials to monitor and observe the elections.