Watchful of some comments on an issue or two. Chief Adviser Mohammad Habibur Rahman took the earliest opportunity — on the eve of Bangla new year — to urge the avoidance of any controversy during. the functioning of the caretaker government. We lend our fullest support to his impassioned call for a distraction-free working of a government charged with the responsibility of fulfilling a specific mission within less than three months time, as calculated from today.

For all practical purposes, the caretaker government has not only been the end-product of a long drawn-out political movement it has also been living up to our expectations in its non-party interim capacity. The BNP is no longer persisting in its allegations about the "partisan role of some officials of the administrative cadres during the oppositions non-cooperation movement. And the opposition has reasons to be satisfied that the postings and transfers made by the then ruling party are being reviewed with the changes already getting underway for the sake of free and fair polls. We only wish that the process of shuffling will be completed at the earliest in order that the local administrations' efficiency is not affected by an air of uncertainty.

As for the opposition's demand that the responsibility of the defence ministry, now vesting In the President of the Republic in terms of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, be transferred to the Chief Adviser, we suggest that a practical response to the Issue would be to debate it threadbare in the new Parliament. Till then, let us spare this government from pronouncing on the issue.

Now Is the time for all the political parties to extend their wholehearted cooperation to the caretaker government in strengthening the CEC, in formulating an appropriate code of conduct for the elections, and in recovering all the illegally-held arms and ammunition. The Chief Adviser s emphatic call to all the political parties that they withdraw their support and shelter to the possessors of unauthorised weapons strikes a responsive chord with us. This is a golden opportunity for the political parties to rid themselves of the stigma of having given an avoidable Indulgence to their extra-militant supporters.

While appreciating the caretaker government's flair for consultation with all the political parties in areas where this is deemed necessary, we are hoping that it will be reciprocated in the form of unfailing cooperation by the latter.