Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said if possible, the government will arrange general election ahead of the previously set December 2008 deadline after completion of the electoral roll with voters' photos.

He reaffirmed his commitment to transferring power to elected public representatives after arranging the elections within the set timeline.

“Immediately after preparation of voters' list with photos, the government will extend all-out cooperation to the Election Commission (EC) in holding the polls at the quickest,” Fakhruddin said in his address to the nation over the state-owned radio and television.

The chief adviser also announced the end of the ban on indoor politics from today to facilitate political parties' dialogue with the EC preparatory to the next polls.

He hoped all parties would participate in the discussions with the Election Commission that will finalise its draft on reform in consultations with political parties.

“Our endeavour will continue to set up a solid foundation of democracy and good governance and create condition free from corruption and muscle power so our future journey along the path of building a progressive and democratic society is not impeded.”

Fakhruddin said the objective of his government is not only to hold a fair election but also to build a sustainable democracy. “Our final goal is to make democracy sustainable forever as democracy is the best way for people's emancipation and progress.”

He said a section of corrupt persons looted thousands of crores of money under their names or pseudonyms using power and influence.

“Although general people are to bear the burden of this, only a handful of people enjoyed its benefit. Therefore, the government has strengthened the Anti-Corruption Commission to take effective steps to stop corruption,” he said.

The chief adviser said different persons returned Tk 820 crore earned through corruption and dishonesty to government exchequer following its coordinated efforts.

However, Fakhruddin made it clear that the National Anti-corruption Task Force would not publish any new list of suspected corrupt after this month.

He said different government agencies would carry on anti-corruption drives in accordance with rules and regulations.

“You must admit that it is not possible for the government alone to achieve final success in curbing corruption,” said Fakhruddin, stressing the practice of moral values in all spheres and honest desire at personal, family, social and political levels to build a corruption-free society.

On recent student protest on the Dhaka University campus that led the government to impose curfew and shut down universities and colleges in divisional headquarters, the chief adviser lamented that it was an unfortunate incident.

He said the police filed cases against 36 suspects, including four teachers and 14 students of Dhaka University in this connection.

Fakhruddin assured that no other persons would be sued or harassed in connection with the campus incidents and final report would be given by pardoning others, including thousands of anonymous people against whom police filed FIR.

In his 24-minute speech the chief adviser listed his government's various measures to tackle national issues, including floods, price-hike, power deficit, trade and economy.

He said the present government assumed office for a limited period of time and is to take some harsh and corrective steps on short-term basis to put the nation on the right track.

“I would like to assure you that we are committed to performing the tasks vested in us properly until the holding of the election within the declared timeframe, December 2008,” said the head of the caretaker government.

Turning to prices of essentials, he mentioned his government's various steps. The government action includes the process of importing 900,000 tonnes of food-grain during the current fiscal year under government initiative, which remains at the final stage.

Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice will begin today under which rice will be sold at Tk 19 a kg against the import cost of Tk 25, Fakhruddin said.

Besides, he added, private-sector import of rice and wheat has increased in last two months and opening of letter of credit (LC) to import food items has already increased following reduction in interest rate on bank loans for importing essential items.

On recent floods in the country, the chief adviser said one crore people of 39 districts and 256 upazilas were affected and property worth thousands of crores of taka was damaged. The government has taken a number of steps to tackle the floods and for relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

He said people of various classes and professions have come forward in aid of the flood-hit people and donated money to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund.

So far, nearly Tk 65 crore has come as donation of which Tk 52 crore has already been distributed in field levels as per demand and requirement of the flood-affected districts.

He said coordination committees at districts and upazila levels, comprising government, private and NGO sectors, are carrying out efforts to tackle the post-flood situation.

“The members of the Armed Forces in aid of civil administration are playing an important role in relief and rehabilitation activities in every area.”

Apart from food, clothes and cash assistance, he mentioned, CI sheets and house-building grants are being distributed to the flood-affected people so they could start life anew.

Rehabilitation activities have been strengthened in many areas of the country shortly after the receding of floodwater as well as a massive programme has been taken giving highest priority to distribution of seeds, fertiliser and agricultural loans to the farmers.

“Our courageous and hardworking farmer community has already started cultivation with fresh zeal to make up for the losses. Cultivation process in many districts is at the stage of completion,” Fakhruddin said.

Regarding fresh floods, he said the government is firmly determined to face the new situation by all possible means.

On power situation, he said generation of electricity had not increased in the past although the demand went high. The present government has taken short, mid and long-term planning to meet the growing demand for electricity.

The average power production was 2,800 MW in last January whereas now 3,600 MW electricity is being produced daily, he said.

An additional 200 MW electricity would be generated in December this year following the government's steps and it hopes that more 370 MW power will be generated by next June, the head of the caretaker government mentioned.

Lauding the Bangladesh Armed Forces as professional, Fakhruddin said they have made commendable contributions at different times during the need of the nation, including in improving law and order situation, relief and disaster management, various development activities and in the UN peacekeeping missions abroad.

Presently, he noted, the armed forces are providing significant assistance to the present government in curbing serious crimes, terrorism and corruption as well as in relief and rehabilitation operation for flood victims.

The chief adviser had a word on hawker business, the means of earning of the hawkers, which was hampered during eviction drives. He said the affected hawkers have been rehabilitated in various places of the capital by giving opportunity to run their small business. Presently, the hawkers of Dhaka city are getting scope for running their trade in new places besides the previously fixed areas.

As business picks up during Ramadan and there be a buying binge before the holy Eid festival, he said the government would take necessary steps so that people can go shopping in a happy mood during the upcoming month of fasting and religious festival.

The government will try to ensure supply of uninterrupted electricity to shopping malls and shopping stores as well as strengthen the security system.

About jute mills, the CA said the government has taken a work plan to reduce the losses the state-owned jute mills have incurred since independence due to inefficiencies.

“Attention has been given so that government-owned 18 jute mills can be operated properly. For the first time, the government disbursed funds for purchasing raw jute in July during jute season,” he said.

Fakhruddin also stated that the process of paying arrears of workers of the four closed jute mills has been started soon after closure of those mills and the workers won't have to wait for long, as in the past, to receive their benefits.

He said his government has taken decision in principle to operate the closed jute mills by private sector on the basis of short-term lease. Under such arrangements two mills in Chittagong already are in operation.