Foreign aid, investment largely depends on future election

British Minister of State and Commonwealth Office Kim Howells yesterday said foreign aid and investment will largely depend on the future election in Bangladesh, which he said is very important.

Addressing a press conference at British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Howells, who has just ended his visit to Bangladesh after talks with both government and opposition leaders, said, "The entire world is looking at Bangladesh with deep interest to see if the elections are free and fair."

Calling for an independent and neutral election commission, he said, "A neutral election can not be achieved through Rab, police and political leaders and workers--it will require an independent election commission on the basis of consensus."

Howells said the British government is ready to provide all possible assistance for holding a free and fair election in Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is a promising country where majority people are religious-minded and lead their life in accordance with Islamic ideology," observed the British minister, who also had interaction with religious leaders in Bangladesh.

Howells referred to the vast natural resources of Bangladesh and said the country could achieve economic progress by exploiting minerals, including coal.

He deplored the killing of two judges and a journalist, saying that this is not good news for the country. He described the killing of judges as a "heinous act".

Howells deplored non-completion of proper investigation into the grenade attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet. "The life of our high commissioner is very important to us," he said, expressing the hope that Bangladesh government will be able to complete the investigation and hold trial quickly.

Howells said after the attack, the Scotland Yard visited Bangladesh assisting Bangladesh police and intelligence agencies. He said the British government will publish the investigation findings very soon.