Bangladesh-Election
Lifting embargo on indoor politics across Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Monday announced that the general elections would be held any day in the third week of December this year.

According to Bangladesh's media reports, he said the formal dialogue between his government and political parties would begin from May 22, while the relevant rules of the state of emergency would either be relaxed or deleted at appropriate time in order to create an atmosphere congenial for the general elections that would allow free movement of political leaders and activists before the polls.

The Election Commission (EC) will announce the specific schedule of the general elections, as per its polls-roadmap, while the caretaker government will take all necessary measures to implement the EC's announcement, he added.

Announcing this in an address to the Nation, the chief adviser stressed the need for mapping out a National Charter for the political and economic leap forward of the country on the basis of consensus between all political parties, the professional bodies and the government through discussion before the polls.

"The National Charter will ensure the stability of the next elected government that would have a balance of power between all constitutional posts of the republic, the establishment of sustainable democracy and an effective accountable parliament, unhindered national development and progress, creating an atmosphere of cooperation between all parties instead of enmity," he said, seeking cooperation of all political parties, professional bodies, conscious citizens and the people as a whole.

"This is the expectation of the whole nation that all political parties, whose main purpose is to develop the country, will agree on a National Charter through discussion saying good bye to disruptive programs like hartals, blockades and confrontational street agitations," Dr Fakruddin said, adding, "The National Charter will give a legal cover to the political, administrative and institutional reforms carried out the present caretaker government that would not exist anymore after the year end."
Terming holding the general elections as the main task of his administration, he said, "All activities of the caretaker government were aimed at ensuring the holding of a free, fair and credible elections, for which a correct voters' list was not only necessary it was the demand of all the political parties."
The chief adviser said over six crore correct voters' list with photographs had already been prepared and rest would be prepared on time. He thanked the voters, the EC, the Army and the people as a whole for this achievement.

Meanwhile, leaders of major political parties, with the lone exception of pro-Saifur faction in Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed their disappointments over the chief adviser's (CA) address to the nation, which they believe 'failed to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the nation'.