No room for confusion over polls by Dec 2008
Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhrudding Ahmed yesterday said there is no room for confusion over holding the parliamentary elections by December 2008.
He said the caretaker government has been carrying out relentless efforts since assuming office seven months ago to arrange a free, fair and acceptable general election.
He hoped that the Election Commission (EC) would be able to accomplish the task by preparing the voter list according to its roadmap for holding the election in time.
Inaugurating the voter listing work with photos and national ID cards at Rajshahi Medical College auditorium in the morning, the CA urged the citizens to go to registration centers to become voters and cast their votes to make the country's democratic future stronger.
Terming the beginning of the voter list preparation work a milestone in the forward march of the country's democratic process, he said a flawless voter list is a prerequisite to holding a fair, neutral and acceptable election.
"The procedure now being followed to make the voter list must be easier to update the voter list every year, which will reduce debates on the electoral roll not only in the next election, but also in all future elections.
The CA said the Election Commission will start preparing the electoral role in Khulna City Corporation and nine municipalities this month and across the country later on.
He said the important role being played by army and armed forces in voter listing will be written in golden letters in the nation's history of democracy.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, acting Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Rezaunnabi Dudu also spoke at the inaugural function chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Khalilur Rahman.
GOC of 11 Infantry Division Major General Shamim Chowdhury, civil and military officials, local elite and representatives from different professions attended the function.
The CA said mere holding election is not enough for flourishing democracy. "There is also a need for procedural change in order to ensure political and administrative transparency and accountability to strengthen the foundation of democracy."
He said the Election Commission has already given indications of the necessity of registration of political parties and possible terms and conditions.
The CA hoped that the Election Commission would be able to finalise rules and regulations of reforms in the near future in consultations with political parties.
He said it will be easier to make politics free of pollution and prevent the use of black money and abuse of authority in political arena through setting up an appropriate legal framework and ensuring its application.
He urged all sections of the people, irrespective of party and opinion, to join this forward march of democracy for the greater welfare of the nation.
Later, the head of the caretaker government visited the voter registration center at Shahid Mamun Mahmud Police Lines School and College in the city and inspected the digitised voter listing.
While exchanging views with the members of professional bodies, local elite and government officials at the auditorium of Nawab Sirajuddowla Government College in Natore district town, the CA said steps have been taken to withdraw import duties on some essential items including pulses and edible oil.
He said the government has decided to import some essential commodities to keep prices at affordable levels in the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Citing the soaring prices of some essential items due to demand-supply gap on the international as well as domestic markets, the CA said his government is taking steps to mitigate sufferings of the people.
He said the government has taken decisions to import some 8 lakh tonnes of rice in public sector, open OMS outlets and introduce VGF cards.
He urged the business community to keep prices of essentials at affordable levels.
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