[ALOCHONA] Moin regrets demolition of structures

CAS FOR LIFTING EMERGENCY BEFORE POLL   Moin regrets demolition of structures   Chief of Army Staff (CAS) General Moin U. Ahmed has reaffirmed the other day his commitment for transition to democracy. He, however, apologised to the business community for some of the tough actions of the military-backed government including the demolition of illegal structures. He said it was done to uphold the rule of law.    Addressing the business leaders of all the 64 districts last Tuesday, the CAS requested the Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government (CG) to withdraw the 23-month old emergency rule before the scheduled parliamentary election on 29 December. He hoped that the newly elected civilian government would take over the administration sometime in January.    Amid political turmoil centring on the elections to the ninth parliament boycotted by the Awami League-led alliance, it was the then leadership of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) which on January 6, 2007 demanded promulgation of the state of emergency.    Meanwhile, the grand reception to the CAS, something unprecedented in our history, in presence of the Chief of Bangladesh Navy, the Chief of Bangladesh Air Force and senior military officials, may give an impression of self-satisfaction and also a cautionary signal to the next political government for a proper behaviour.    The long queue of the chamber leaders from 64 districts with packets of gifts for the General Moin U. Ahmed at the Bangladesh- China Friendship Conference Centre on Tuesday may be taken as a demonstration of love and respect from the business community whose members were the first to demand emergency rules and also became victims under the anti-corruption drive.    General Moin also asked the people for looking with sympathy and forgiveness into the difficulty and harassment of the business community during the anti-corruption drive.    Abul Kashem, President of the Council of Chamber Presidents, a forum of the 64 district Chamber presidents, was enthusiastic to call the Army Chief as farmer-friendly and people-friendly leader of the nation. Abul Kashem Ahmed, also first-Vice President of FBCCI, burst into tears as he praised Moin, whom some chamber leaders described as 'a visionary and friend to the business community'.    While referring to the contributions, the business leaders recalled the army's role in helping the people during natural disasters like Sidr and floods, in preparing voters identity cards, in distributing paddy saplings, helping distribution of fertilizers and keeping the law and order under control, speeding up the port operation and carrying out the drive against corruption.    Addressing the business gathering and reception accorded to him, he put out a call for keeping 'patience' to allow the interim government to withdraw the state of emergency and hold the balloting in a congenial atmosphere.    "We want the elections to be held without the state of emergency and it will so happen, insha'Allah. But the matter calls for patience,' Moin said making it clear he would request the chief adviser to withdraw the emergency before the national polls.    "The army did not come to power through the [happenings of] 1/11, nor did it want to create it. We wanted free and fair elections and the president promulgated the state of emergency,' claimed Moin, adding the Armed Forces helped the government to restore law and order and address many other issues.    Moin said he had requested the president to allow the Armed Forces to go back to the barracks. ?"We got back to the barracks within 48 hours of the order," he said.    He said the "members of the Armed Forces are the children of the country's people, not at all rivals. We will continue to stand by the distressed humanity."    In his 40-minute speech, Moin described in details the activities carried out by the Armed Forces in two years, ranging from the demolition drive against illegal and informal structures to the drives against corruption and serious crimes.    He said the anti-corruption campaign had just begun and hoped the next government would follow it up. "We have been able to give an impression to the countrymen of the extent of corruption."    In this context, he urged businessmen to ignore the mistakes made during the drives against illegal structures after January 11, 2007 and appreciated their contribution to the wellbeing of the nation. "We stand beside you," he assured the business community. "Please do not indulge in unethical practice in future and prevent others from doing so."    Former FBCCI presidents Abdul Awal Mintoo and Yusuf Abdullah Harun, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Latifur Rahman, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association president, Anwarul Alam Chowdhury, and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters' Association president Fazlul Haque also addressed the gathering. Former FBCCI President Salman F Rahman and Meer Nasir did not attend the function.   http://www.weeklyholiday.net/met.html#01

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