Chief adviser calls for national
charter before polls
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The chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, has announced the lifting of restrictions on ‘indoor’ politics across the country from today while election to the 9th Jatiya Sangsad will be held on the 3rd week of December this year.
In a radio-televised address to the nation on Monday, the head of the caretaker government also pledged to begin formal dialogue with the political parties from May 22.
He said the government would suspend or relax relevant clauses of emergency power act and its rules and regulations in an appropriate time as per requirements in order to create a congenial atmosphere for holding the election and easing the poll campaign.
The chief adviser said steps would be taken to formulate a ‘National Charter’ on the basis of consensus on relevant matters prior to the election so that qualitative changes were ensured in government and the political system after the polls.
On the holding of much-talked about general election, Fakhruddin said as per rules, the Election Commission would announce the specific date of holding the election in accordance with the election schedule.
‘The sun of New Year will welcome an elected and people’s representative government after December,’ he said expressing the hope that democracy-loving people, political parties, government and private organisations concerned, and sane section of intellectuals would make it possible.
The chief adviser expressed the hope that all sorts of confusions and questions centring the general election will end after the announcement. He said the present caretaker government would not be in office at the end of this year, but, it would leave behind a sustainable democratic system based on a solid foundation.
‘We are strongly hopeful that the hopes and aspirations of the struggling people of
The chief adviser said the main objective of the caretaker government was to conduct a free, fair and peaceful election acceptable to all and introducing a smooth and democratic trend in the country.
In this connection, he said before the holding the elections, the government completed the reconstruction of the Election Commission and in continuation, the EC involved itself in formulating a flawless electoral role. He said nearly 6.50 crore voters registration had been completed so far.
The chief adviser said the government had achieved maximum success so far in creating an environment conducive to holding the election.
He said his government was working relentlessly to prevent the influence of black money and muscle power, establishing rule of law, conducting anti-corruption drive, improving law and order and above all bringing dynamism to the activities in government institutions to create an atmosphere conducive to the holding of a free, fair and meaningful election.
‘We have almost reached the final stage of the election process,’ he said adding that the objective of the government is to establish a democratic trend in the country through holding a free, fair and credible election as per the roadmap announced by the Election Commission.
Putting emphasis on national consensus to this end, he said steps had been taken to hold a national dialogue in the light with the proposal of political parties and professional bodies.
In this context, he referred the government’s pre-dialogue talks with the political parties and announced that the government would sit for dialogue with the political parties from May 22.
He said letters would be sent to different political parties from the Chief Adviser’s Office from today inviting them to dialogue.
Fakhruddin firmly hoped that a national consensus would be established on different important issues in the dialogue where hopes and aspirations of all political parties, professionals and peoples from all walks of life would be reflected.
Referring to the EC’s decision regarding holding of the municipal and city corporation polls before the national election, the chief adviser said it was the demand of time that the elections to upazila, municipality and city corporations were held for strengthening the local government institutions for the welfare of the people.
But, he firmly said the efforts to hold the local government election would not create any obstacle to the path towards holding the national election which is the key objective of the government.
He said the government would extend all-out support to the Election Commission as per its demand and requirements.
About the internal reforms of political parties, he said the nation wanted to see successful implementation of reform activities for the continuation of democratic culture, honest, efficient and dynamic leadership. ‘In this context, we expect the successful implementation of the self-initiated internal reforms in the political parties,’ he added.
Laying emphasis on establishing consensus before the polls to make the post election parliament effective, the chief adviser said a number of proposals had been discussed so far in this regard.
It has to be ensured that none will reject election results and boycott parliament, he said adding, ‘I hope that this issue will be discussed in the upcoming dialogue with due importance.’
He said the obligation to be fulfilled is to continue and proceed further the institutional and legal reforms done by the caretaker government for separation of judiciary, Election Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission and other areas.
Referring to the practice of negative politics, the chief adviser said, ‘We have to shun the path of negative politics as the people do not want to see anarchic political situation in future.’
Calling upon the political leadership to run administration on the basis of talent and competency, he said consensus would be established in this area through the process of dialogue. He said politicisation of administration could not bring anything good for the nation.
Describing corruption as the main impediment toward national progress and democracy, he said, ‘We have to come out from the vicious circle of corruption at any cost’.
He called upon all to forge unity to establish a corruption-free society. He expressed the hope that political personalities and people belonging to different classes and professional bodies will make proposals to rid the country of corruption.
On the stability of the next elected government, Fakhruddin said the nation wholeheartedly expected the overall stability of the post- election government.
He said there might have differences in political philosophy or ideology, but there must have to be the system so that such differences in no way could hamper the stability.
The chief adviser called upon all political parties, professional organisations and people from all walks of life to develop such infrastructure or guidelines for ensuring stability for the next governments where political, economic and administrative stability would always be upheld.
‘The valuable proposals of all of you and consensus on these matters are the expectations of the nation at present,’ he added.
Referring to the upcoming dialogue with political parties, he expressed the hope that the political parties would take part in the dialogue with an open mind.
‘I can assure that the government has neither pre-fixed agenda nor has hostility against anyone. Rather it has an open mind for understanding,’ he said.
He said the political parties would make their opinions in free mind about the actions in resolving all problems in the political arena, their possible solutions and work plans.
They would make constructive proposals for bringing qualitative improvement of political structure, he said.
Describing the dialogue as a trust-based initiative, the chief adviser said, ‘There may be disputes, rivalry and competition within us. But in the eventual judgement, these are not our main features. The nation expects from us a healthy and stable transition. We will have to overcome all narrowness, vengeance and mistrust to proceed towards that goal’.
‘I know, we have the courage to rise above all these. This is the time to express our determination. We don’t have any scope to go backward,’ he added.
He said we don’t want to go back to the situation, which had witnessed violent political conflicts. We want a qualitative and meaningful change in the governance and political structures.
The chief adviser said the people would have to take the responsibility to ensure that the political parties are run according to the law and constitution in a democratic atmosphere.
‘You will also have to ensure that the honest, competent, dedicated to public welfare, patriotic, meritorious and efficient candidates are elected to represent the people in parliament’.
He expressed the hope that they will be able to remove the apparent differences of our opinions or thoughts through cordial discussions and exchange of opinions since their goal is the same.
‘Definitely we will have to instil in the soil of this country the democracy and democratic system, values and rules and regulations. And it will have to be done for a permanent period,’ he said.
Fakhruddin said the successful end of the journey, which the government had started on January 11, 2007 was now at the threshold of success. He expressed the hope that the government would be able to reach the desired goal through united efforts of all.
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