Malek, Debashis think: Emergency should be lifted before general election

Two of the three Special Assistants to Chief Advisor observed that emergency should be lifted before holding the stalled general election as they think it is essential for fair polls.

They also hoped that the state of emergency would be withdrawn before the national elections.

Brig Gen (retd) MA Malek, assigned to the Post and

Tele-Communications Ministry, said the state of emergency should be gone for holding a free, fair and neutral election.

In this context, he referred to Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed's address to the nation. "The Chief Advisor yesterday said that the government is thinking about lifting the emergency and it would be withdrawn in appropriate time after consulting all," he said while talking at his Ministry.

About holding election, the CA's Special Assistants said the polls would be held as per announced roadmap-and it might be held even before the scheduled timeline. "The Election Commission is responsible for holding election and the commission is working in this regard. Government will ensure the suitable environment for holding election," he said.

Barrister Debashis Roy, who got the charge of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, also observed that emergency should be lifted before the election and hoped that the government would take necessary steps in this regard.

"Holding general election is the first challenge of the incumbent caretaker government and the government will hold it as early as possible," he said.

About dialogue with political parties, the Special Assistant noted that the Chief Advisor assured all of holding dialogue with political parties and they think that it would happen without delay.

Asked about his future plan, the Chakma Raja of hill-district Rangamati said people in the hill tracts face many problems and development of the hilly areas is his first mission.

"Land problem is the first problem of the ethnic people, and through consulting all, I will try to resolve this critical problem. Health, food, education and electricity are also major problems and I will give priority to solving these problems," said the monarch of the indigenous people at his Ministry.

Responding to a query about the implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord, Debashis said many agreements in the CHT peace accord were yet not implemented and it would be resolved through discussion in the Council of Advisors.

The Special assistants today started their office at the Secretariat after the Chief Advisor appointed them Thursday with the rank of state minister, under a new arrangement aimed at enlarging the caucus of the caretaker government.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Communications Advisor Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader said emergency would not be there even for an hour when it wouldn't be required.

Responding to a query about the timeframe of government's dialogue with the political parties, he said the government has decided to hold dialogue with the political parties and it would happen in suitable time.

About the agenda of the planned dialogue, the Communications Advisor said at his office at the Secretariat that the agenda would be settled after consulting all.

Source-http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/01/14/news0157.htm