The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday refuted all allegations brought against them and said their caretaker government is committed to holding the national elections in a free, fair and nonpartisan manner.

He reaffirmed the government position responding to a volley of questions from reporters at his Commerce Ministry office after his meeting with visiting Indian State Minister for Commerce and Power Jay Ram Ramesh.

The adviser, a spokesman for the caretaker government in dealing with political parties, said that the present government is now focusing on the facts coming up in the electoral process. "We are not interested to give comments against comments."

He once more said that the government is firmly committed to holding election on December 18 and hoped that the Election Commission would declare the election schedule as the government is heading towards the election.

The journalists jostled for answers to questions cropping up over the EC failure to announce poll schedule today pending cases against the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, missing the deadline for registration of political parties as per the reformed politico-electoral rules, and immediate-past PM Khaleda's demand for resignation of the election commissioner.

Against an allegation of the interim regime's partiality towards a certain quarter, he said, "We are totally neutral."

He observed that the allegations brought against them could be resolved through dialogue. "It'll not derail us from our goal," he said.

Hossain Zillur disclosed that the government is monitoring each and every single development in the process of preparation for the polls for transition from the interim regime and paying more attention to a particular crisis that arises.