By NNN-BSS
Dhaka : Visiting British Secretary of State for Home Affairs Jacqui Smith appreciated the government’s
reform measures and the ongoing voter registration process ahead
of the general elections.
“Your reform programmes and the voter registration process that are going on so quickly are very impressive,” said Jacqui when she made a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office here Wednesday afternoon.
During the meeting, the Chief Adviser apprised the UK minister of various reform measures of the government, including separation of judiciary.
Dr Fakhruddin said the prime objective of his government is to create a conducive atmosphere to hold all future elections in a free, fair and credible manner.
He said both institutional and economic reforms are being carried out, including preparation of voters’ ID cards with photographs, formation of different commissions as well as measures in police administration.
The Chief Adviser told the British minister that the government has initiated informal talks with the political parties before holding formal dialogue on electoral and other political issues.
Referring to the state of emergency, he said certain provisions of emergency would be lifted depending on the conditions so that the intending candidates can campaign for the polls.
Dr Fakhruddin recalled his fruitful meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during his recent visit to London. The two leaders, he said, discussed different issues, including climate change, counter-terrorism and attainment of millennium development goals (MDGs).
Describing the UK as one of the leading foreign investors and the largest development partners of Bangladesh, he said relations between the two countries are growing both in “depth and
dimension”.
The UK minister said she already had very useful talks with the Bangladesh home and foreign advisers regarding counter-terrorism.
She particularly said Britain is very much supportive to the reform measurers undertaken by the present caretaker government to give democracy a sustainable shape.
About the role of media, the Chief Adviser said they are playing a tremendous role in making a bridge between the government and the people. “Every day we are made accountable to the people through the media,” he added.