tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19329393.post3298262207278096467..comments2024-01-02T16:14:07.194+06:00Comments on Bangladesh Watchdog: Fakhruddin Ahmed: The Boss of BangladeshBangladesh Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18254792331658459622noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19329393.post-54951166945696840662007-03-26T20:49:00.000+06:002007-03-26T20:49:00.000+06:00This Government Won't Stay In Power A Day More Tha...This Government Won't Stay In Power A Day More Than Necessary<BR/> <BR/>News Agencies have reported that in a wide ranging interview with the Time magazine in its march 22 nd issue ,the Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has explained many pertinent and relevant issues.He has stated that his government is a constitutional government, that the military is helping his government as required under the constitution when called upon in aid of the civil government. He also clarified that his caretaker government does not intend to stay in power "a day longer than necessary"<BR/> <BR/>.He said the Election Commission (EC) has to decide when elections will be held. "Before that, there is a need to carry out fundamental reforms of the political party systems, including registration and accountability to their own constitutions, and accountability to the people in terms of what they do with the money they collect," he added. Mr. Fakhruddin said the EC is also thinking about technical issues like a voter ID card to ensure that fraud is minimised, about transparent ballot boxes. All these reforms will take time. <BR/><BR/>Responding to a question that those reforms could take years, the chief adviser retorted, "Years? Definitely no. [But] some of those [negative] conditions [need to] be removed once and for all, not just for the next election but for elections thereafter as well." Asked about his role, Fakhruddin said, "I look upon myself as a leader to carry out [those] fundamental reforms, to make it possible to hand over [power to] a government elected on the basis of a free, fair election. The objective is strengthening Bangladesh's democratic order." On the reason for launching the anti-corruption campaign, he said corruption has emerged as a great threat to good governance and, in fact, to democracy. A really free, fair, credible election has to be held in an atmosphere where corrupt means and practices do not unfairly influence the outcome. "What was happening was that money, muscle and misuse of authority--the three Ms--were working to win an election," said the chief adviser. <BR/><BR/>The chief adviser said to do that will require carrying out fundamental reforms so that the will of the people is reflected truly in the outcome of the election. <BR/><BR/>We feel that the Chief Advisor has said some self-evident truths and it would help removing some misunderstanding in some places. He has also clarified that his government will not stay in power one day longer than necessary. This is a welcome statement. <BR/><BR/>However we request the government that necessity can be explained in many ways. We feel it will be good for the present government if it undertakes reform in electoral procedure and in tackling high -level and high-scale corruption only and hold the election as early as possible. Fundamental and wide-ranging reform should be undertaken only by the future elected government.We hope the Chief Advisor and his team of Advisors will consider our point. #<BR/><BR/>Asia Post, Dhaka, 25 March 2007Bangladesh Watchdoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18254792331658459622noreply@blogger.com