The chief adviser's (CA) speech was broadcasted on radio and television on Sunday night.

Welcoming the speech, Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) in a statement said that the CA stated to hold the election free from black money, violence and communalism, for which the party has been striving hard since the 90s.

On the issue of state of emergency, the statement said it should not be used against the political activities and democratic and basic rights. Indiscriminate arrests of political leaders and activists and disgracing them before people are giving wrong signals, it added.

The eviction of poor and lower class people without creating alternatives for them first is increasing their agony, though bulldozing of big constructions is being halted in the meantime, the statement noted.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu and General Secretary Syed Zafar Sazzad in a joint statement yesterday congratulated the CA for identifying the barriers to holding a credible election. The JSD leaders urged the CA to outline a clear plan for a free and fair election as soon as possible.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Sramik Jote and Jatiya Sramojibi Party also congratulated the CA and insisted on taking necessary steps to prepare national identity (ID) cards immediately.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA), Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), Bangladesh Manobadhikar Samonnoy Parishad (BMSP) in separate welcome notes demanded an election supervision council and immediate steps for holding a fair poll.

The CA's vows for reconstituting EC, preparing correct voter list, separating EC secretariat, eliminating corruption and monitoring election has earned the confidence of common people in the caretaker government, BNWLA Executive Director Salma Ali noted.