Parties must become accountable first for emergency to relax

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has said the state of emergency will be gradually withdrawn and the ban on indoor politics outside the capital will also be lifted if the political parties become more accountable.
He also said economic activities will pick up pace this winter and the caretaker government is trying to find ways to deal with the pressures from the price hikes on the international market in a bid to curb rising commodity prices at home.
"The state of emergency will be relaxed gradually, and there is a plan to lift the ban on indoor politics outside Dhaka, but some time was needed to do that. The reasons for needing the time also need to be considered. Some more accountability needs to be established in the activities of political parties," said Fakhruddin to reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, before leaving for home on Friday.
He said the government hopes political parties will on their own bring reforms to their organisations, as the people also want that.
Soon the parties will have to decide on how they will carry the country forward after the election, and a consensus among the people will also be formed on the matter.
"The political parties also have a responsibility to bring dynamism to politics," he said.
He also said he tried to draw attention to the effects of climate change and Bangladesh's vulnerability in the face of global warming.
Asked whether Bangladesh has been identified with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq as the leaders from all three countries were grouped together in a session, Fakhruddin said he highlighted Bangladesh's difference with other countries in the forum, adding who sat next to who in a session is not important.
"I've told them [global leaders] Bangladesh is different from other countries. Every country has to decide on its position. No two countries can be compared." he said.
When asked to comment on Pakistani president's remark that 'matters of human rights, democracy and other issues should not always be looked at through a western lens', Fakhruddin said, "If there are human rights violations in our country according to our definitions then that has to be remedied in our own way."
He also hoped economic activities will pick up pace after the annual development plan is implemented, and there are already signs of exports rising.
"Remittances have gone up and after an initial slowdown, exports are again on the rise which means manufacturing is increasing and jobs are being created," Fakhruddin said.
"Looking at the overall progress, we are hoping that economic activities will accelerate this winter," he added.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed returned to the capital last evening.