C'wealth Secretary-General hopes institutional reform in Bangla

Dhaka, Mar 20 (UNI) Commonwealth Secretary-General Donald C Mckinnon today said the opportunity has come for the interim caretaker government of Bangladesh to conduct fundamental and institutional reforms in the electoral process.

The Commonwealth executive chief made the remark when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office here.

Ahmed informed McKinnon that his government is focused on reforms for creating a favorbale climate for holding "free, fair and credible elections so that honest and competent persons can participate in the election".

The Commonwealth Secretary-General who came here yesterday on a three-day visit said the present government has a "challenging task" ahead.

Mckinnon said while meeting with various people in Dhaka he felt that the caretaker government has a lot of support from its citizens.

About timeframe for holding the stalled general election, the Chief Adviser said a process has started and it would gradually crystallize." The Election Commission has been reconstituted and is already functioning to hold the election in a credible manner." The general elections originally fixed on January 22, 2007 was postponed for indefinite period following the promulgation of the state of emergency on January 11, 2007 to quell political violence over the elections.

Mckinnon said he would convey to the Commonwealth leaders and ministers the message about the steps and achievements of the government.

The Chief Adviser said suggestions from commonwealth countries would be welcomed.

Dr Ahmed informed Mckinnon that the present caretaker government is directly accountable to the people, and believes in transparency and openness. And the media, which are free despite state of emergency, are always evaluating the government's performance.

He mentioned that steps have been taken to separate the judiciary from the executive and is strengthening institutions, particularly constitutional institutions like the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission through the reforms.

"It will provide checks and balances, making the reforms lasting ones," he told McKinnon.

The Chief Adviser also apprised him that they are working to remove the influence of three Ms "muscle, money, and misuse of authority" from the election process to create a level playing field.

The government is also taking steps to accelerate economic activities, he said.

Mckinnon will leave here tomorrow for New Delhi.

UNI