The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed yesterday said that the caretaker government will withdraw the state of emergency before national election scheduled for December 29.

"I would request the government and the chief of the government to lift emergency before the election," he said while speaking as chief guest at a reception accorded to him for the contribution of Bangladesh Armed Forces to the nation at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

"The emergency will be withdrawn before election. The government has plan to do this," Gen Moeen said.

He at the same hastened to add that it needs time to do that and everyone should have patience for it to happen.

"The Armed Forces have been working for nearly two years during

emergency on the directive of the President," the army chief said adding, "The Armed forces will go back to barrack when the President directs. Now it is time for them to go back to barrack."

He expressed his regret over the sufferings of the business community during anti -corruption drive and said that the drive was conducted in the greater interest of the nation.

"We have launched the anti corruption drive, but it is not complete as yet," he said and hoped that the next government will continue the drive.

He told the gathering that a staggering sum of money has been siphoned off outside the country.

Those who are now talking about the welfare of the nation are silent about the recovery of this huge amount, he added.

The army chief called upon business community neither to indulge in corruption nor support this scourge.

He said that armed forces have recovered more than Tk 12,00 crore black money during the anti-corruption drive and deposited it to Bangladesh Bank during the last two years.

Besides, they have recovered 30,664 hectares of land across the country from illegal possession, Gen Moeen said.

He recounted the role the armed forces activities and said that they have always come forward during disaster management.

"The Armed Forces will remain standby to serve the interest of the country. Bangladesh is my country, our country and it's the duty of all of us to protect our country," he said in an unequivocal term.

Council of Chamber Presidents (CCP), a forum of 64-district chamber presidents, organised the reception with its president Abul Kashem Ahmed in the chair . Former FBCCI presidents Abdul Awal Mintoo and Yussuf Abdullah Harun, MCCI president Latifur Rahman, BGMEA president Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) and BKMEA president Fazlul Haque , among others, spoke on the occasion. The incumbent FBCCI leaders and business leaders from 64 district chambers were present.

Appreciating the contribution of armed forces both at home and abroad, particularly during any crisis period of the country, FBCCI President Annisul Huq sought the army chief's support to lift the emergency as per the desire of the people.

"The withdrawal of the state of emergency before the national election will help the country move towards democratic process," he said.

He hoped that that the armed forces will respect the constitution of the country in the future as they did in the past and would never take over the state power.

Abdul Awal Mintoo said that the election is a must for achieving social and political stability and also creating congenial atmosphere for investment in the country.

Yussuf Abdullah Harun called upon the government to establish

infrastructures for accelerating economic progress in the country.

Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury suggested exploring markets through the government policy support for employment generation.

Fazlul Haque praised the armed forces for their role in improving the services of Chittagong port and the Chittagong Customs House.