Caretaker govt. vows to conduct free, fair poll

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, JULY 18. The non-party caretaker government headed by the Chief Adviser, Mr. Justice Latifur Rahman, has spelt out its agenda for holding general elections within the 90-day stipulated time-frame, and simultaneously gone for some quick drastic measures to bring changes in the administration to emphasise its neutral image.

The dramatic transfer of 13 senior Secretaries - including the Principal Secretary to the outgoing Prime Minister, Dr. S.A. Samad, and the Foreign Secretary, Syed Moazzem Ali - was one of the first major steps that the interim government had taken within hours after Justice Latifur Rahman took oath of office and secrecy on July 15.

Justice Rahman has defended his action which evoked criticism from several former Secretaries and a section of the influential media which termed it as ``unprecedented and un- procedural''. But the two major contenders in the coming election - the Awami League and the BNP-led 4-party alliance - have cautiously reserved their comments on the transfers. The intellectual sympathisers of the BNP alliance hailed the move.

Meanwhile, Justice Rahman told his 10-member Council of Advisers, who were sworn-in on July 16, that there was ``no alternative'' to recovering illegal arms and taking drastic action against terrorists to ensure a peaceful poll.

The advisers are drawn from various professional groups and are known for their `neutrality'. Constitutional expert, Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed, the liberation war hero, Maj.Gen. Mainul Hussain Chowdhury, the former bureaucrat, Mr. Abdul Mueed Chowdhury, the former Supreme Court judge, Mr. B.B. Roy Chowdhury, the former Auditor and Comptroller General, Mr. M. Hafizuddin, a heart specialist, Brig. Abdul Malek, the former IG of Police, Mr. ASM Shahajahan, a woman entrepreneur, Ms. Rokeya Afzal Rahman, and an engineer, Mr. AKM Amanul Islam Chowdhury, form the Council and have been allotted portfolios.

Justice Rahman said ``de-politicisation of administration'' and improvement of law and order were a must for a free and fair poll.

In his maiden address to the nation over radio and television, he said, ``Political cruelty and violence appear to be all- pervasive.

In such circumstances, we don't have any option but to improve law and order rapidly, recover illegal arms and take stern measures against terrorists and those (who) shelter them.''

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Section  : International
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