Ban on indoor politics in Bangladesh goes

Dhaka, Sep 9 (UNI) The military-backed caretaker government of Bangladesh today announced the lifting of ban on indoor politics from tomorrow after six long months, to allow political parties to hold dialogue with the Election Commission on electoral reforms.

Chief Advisor of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed made the announcement during a nationwide address over state-owned radio and television this evening.

The ban was imposed on March 8 following the promulgation of the state of emergency on January 22 restricting parties to suspend all their political activities and keep their offices shut.

President Iajuddin Ahmed promulgated the emergency and postponed the January 22 scheduled polls following opposition's violent protests against planned rigging.

Dr Fakhruddin however, did not mention when the emergency will be withdrawn.

The Election Commission, in accordance with its July 15 roadmap is scheduled to open dialogue with parties from September 12 on its proposed reforms concerning election rules and regulations. The Commission also announced to hold elections before end of December 2008.

Dr Ahmed said if possible, the government would arrange the elections ahead of December 2008 after the completion of electoral roll with voters' pictures.

He hoped all parties will participate in the discussions to help the Election Commission to finalise its draft electoral reforms.

Dr Ahmed reaffirmed his commitment to transfer power to elected public representatives after arranging the elections within the set timeline.

"Our endeavours will continue to set up solid foundation of democracy and good governance and create condition free from corruption and muscle power so our future journey is not hampered for building a progressive and democratic society." Dr Ahmed, whose government launched war on corruption, said a section of corrupt people looted thousands of crores of Taka (Bangladesh currency) using power and influence.

"Although the general people are to bear the burden of this, only a handful of people enjoyed its benefit. Therefore, the government has strengthened the Anti-Corruption Commission to take effective steps to stop corruption," he said.

As part of its anti-corruption campaign the government rounded up two former prime ministers, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, along with nearly 200 former ministers, MPs, bureaucrats and businessmen. Many of them were already tried by special anti-corruption courts and punished with imprisonment of different terms.

However, Dr Fakhruddin said the Anti-corruption National Task Force will not publish any new list of corrupts after this month.

He said different government agencies will continue its routine works against corruption in accordance with existing rules and regulations.

"You must admit that it is not possible for the government alone to achieve final success in curbing corruption," he said adding that it requires practice of moral values and honest desire at personal, family, social and political levels to build a corruption-free society.

On recent student protest in Dhaka University campus that led the government to impose curfew and shut down universities and colleges in divisional cities, Dr Fakhruddin said it was an unfortunate incident.

He said the police filed cases against 36 people including four teachers and 14 students of Dhaka University and assured that no other person will be sued or harassed in connection with the campus incident.

In his 24-minute speech he mentioned his government's various measures to tackle national issues including floods, price-hike of essential commodities, power deficit, trade and economy.

He said the present government assumed the office for a limited period and it was to take some harsh and corrective steps on short-term basis to put the nation on the right track.

"I would like to assure you that we are committed to perform the tasks vested upon us properly untill holding of the election within the declared timeframe, December 2008." UNI