The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Chittagong

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman Tuesday expressed government's expectation that people would elect competent candidates in the December 29 national elections according to their free choice.

"We trust in public opinion and think country's conscious voters will take the right decision in electing the eligible candidates," said the Adviser, who speaks for their caretaker government as spokesperson.

He made the observations to reporters in reply to a query if the candidates who have submitted nomination papers could fulfill the expectations of the interim government, which has carried out a clean-up drive since the 1/11 changeover with high hopes for a fresh start in the crisis-ridden polity with a clean sheet.

The Commerce and Education Adviser reaffirmed that the upcoming general election would not be held under the state of emergency anyway. Emergency will go before December 16 victory day.

Lifting the emergency ahead of the polls is the main common plea of the two former ruling parties-Awami League and BNP, who have agreed to join the polls after realization of their various other demands, including release of their leaders held during the anti-graft drive.

Prior to leaving for Dhaka, the Adviser informed the reporters about the progress on government's package programme for development of the port city undertaken in the meeting of the Advisory Council on August 13.

Under the programme, double-shift would be introduced in five government schools from next year while the activities of the newly constituted Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company started "soon", he said.