Country closer to sustainable democracy

President Iajuddin Ahmed last night said the country is now in the final phase of desired transition to sustainable democracy through polls going to be held before the end of this year.
“The caretaker government is focused on the holding of a free, fair and credible election as per the declared roadmap, and has undertaken a host of reform process for building and strengthening electoral and other institutions,” he said while he was addressing a dinner in honour of visiting Iceland President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.
Terming Iceland president's visit a landmark event in bilateral relations for the two countries, he said there are ample opportunities for the two countries to further deepen the bilateral relations, particularly in the field of trade and investment.
“Iceland may join in our endeavour for economic development in many ways. Bangladesh is ready to work with Iceland government in exploring the areas of cooperation to the mutual benefit of our peoples,” he added.
He noted that despite huge population in a small geographical area, resource constraints and recurrent natural calamities, Bangladesh has achieved notable improvements in many sectors.
Iajuddin said the country has made tremendous strides in poverty reduction and in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).
“Our achievements in the social sectors, like health and education, empowerment of women, gender parity in primary and secondary schools enrollment are remarkable. Our women are now empowered enough to play the role of a major catalyst in development,” he told the function.
Praising Grimsson's personal contribution to the struggle for mobilising world attention to the imminent danger of climate change, Iajuddin said Bangladesh can hardly afford to absorb the impact of climate change both economically and technologically as Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to climate change for hardly any faults of her own.
He pointed out that Bangladesh faced with challenges like frequent floods and cyclones, salinity intrusion, and depletion of forests and wildlife resources.
” We need support of international community for prevention, adaptation and mitigation of adverse impacts of climate change,” Iajuddin told his counterpart from the northern European country.
In his speech Grímsson said collaboration between Bangladesh and Iceland could be a symbol how two nations fight against climate change together.
He said the two counties would face the adversities of climate change together.
President Grimsson emphasised exchange of visits of fisheries and ocean resource experts as a measure of boosting bilateral cooperation.
Before joining the dinner party, the two presidents discussed the burning issues of global warming, among other issues.
They agreed to work unitedly on this matter and felt that there would be an integrated, network centre to do research and monitor the climate change phenomena.
They also agreed that a well-coordinated cooperation is needed among the countries as well as the international organisations.
“It is an urgent need, for the entire global community, to face this alarming issue with collective efforts,” the two Presidents agreed.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, Speaker Barrister Zamiruddin Sircar, Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, the chief justice, advisers, the chief election commissioner, chiefs of three services and high civil and military officials, among others, attended the dinner.