The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said the government now stands on the threshold line of election super highway dispelling all sorts of doubt.

He was talking to reporters on the sideline of two -daylong biennial meeting of the 4th BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering at LGED auditorium. The Bangladesh Society of Mechanical Engineers (BSME) organised the conference.

He congratulated the diplomats, political leaders and voters to support the government activities to bring the election process to its present logical conclusion.

He expressed the hope that the election will be held freely, fairly and credibly on December 29.

"Bangladesh will be a model of 'developing democracy' after the election, he noted.

He pointed out that Election Commission and the law-enforcing agencies are now on full alert to foil any attempt to disrupt the election process.

Asked when the government will sit with the Awami League President Shiekh Hasian and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Education Adviser said it is just a matter of time. Media will be informed ahead of the dialogue with the two leaders, he formed.

Dr Zillur laid emphasis on the higher education and research as a tool of economic growth. With this end in view the caretaker government allocated adequate fund to these two sectors, he added.

He called upon the members of professional bodies to strive for achieving excellence in their respective fields for building up a knowledge-based future of Bangladesh.

Researchers from 11 countries including USA, Japan, Australia, Iran, India are participating in the conference.

BSME Secretary General Prof M Imtiaz Hossain, Prof AKM Sadrul Islam, representative of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), former vice-president of ASME addressed the inaugural session of the biannual election while BSME President Prof MH Khan chaired on the occasion.