The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

United Kingdom yesterday called upon the interim government of Bangladesh to lift the state of emergency ahead of elections in December designed to restore democracy to the country.

Visiting UK minister of state for Asia, Africa and the United Nations, Mark Malloch Brown, told Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed that London wanted the polls to be "held in conditions which allow free and fair vote".

"When I say the elections should be free and fair and legitimate, I think that as much as possible they should take place not under emergency laws but under the regular constitutional arrangements," he said.

After meeting foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the foreign ministry, he also told reporters that his country was counting down to the exit of the caretaker government and Bangladesh's return to democracy.

"Our message: we are on the side of [the elections] being as much as possible free and fair, with as little emergency legislation as possible," he said.

"But there are some law and order issues that the government is very concerned about and we will have to see whether or not they are able to remove all of the legislation or leave at least some small part in place," said Lord Brown.

"We think the caretaker government played a very important role … it is time now for Bangladeshi democracy again and people to choose their own government," he added.

He said Britain could not dictate what Bangladesh should do, and stressed that the government, the political parties and the Election Commission should negotiate to resolve differences.

Foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed told reporters: "We discussed the political developments in Bangladesh leading to the election scheduled for 18th December".

"I apprised [the minister] of the government's determination that the elections be free, fair and credible, and that we are able to demonstrate once again what is now generally acknowledged, that Bangladesh is the most peaceful country in the region".

Lord Brown arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit yesterday morning. Before talking to the Foreign Adviser he met with home affairs adviser MA Matin and is later scheduled to have talks with chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed.

The chief adviser in a September address to the nation announced general elections would be held under a relaxed state of emergency, rather than a total withdrawal.

Political parties have been demanding a total lifting of emergency for holding of the ninth parliamentary polls, with major party BNP along with its political allies refusing to register before an accord is reached with the government on the issue.

Lord Brown, former deputy secretary general of the United Nations, is also to meet a range of civil society figures as well as Bangladeshi members of UN peacekeeping forces and hold a roundtable discussion with human rights defenders.