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Electoral reforms to cut money, muscle power

CA tells visiting Asian editors

UNB, Dhaka
Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the objective of the electoral reforms undertaken by his caretaker government is to curb undue influence of money-muscle and misuse of authority in the forthcoming election.
He told Asian media personalities that primary goal of the caretaker government is to hold a free, fair, transparent and credible election by the end of2008.
Fakhruddin said his government believes in freedom of press,
as the press builds the bridge between the people and the government.
The head of the caretaker government made the remarks while exchanging views with a delegation of Asia News Network (ANN) at the CA's Office in the afternoon.
Outgoing Chairman of ANN and Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam led the delegation.
According to its outgoing chair man, ANN is a unique structure that brings together the highest circulated and prestigious English language newspapers, some news
agencies and vernacular dailies. The circulation of all the newspapers stands at 150 million.
ANN was formed to create an opportunity for the Asians to hear about Asia through Asian journalism.
Mahfuz Anam gave a brief account of the ANN aims and objectives. The Philippines became new chair of the Asia News Network, he told the function.
Chief Editor of The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) Endy M Bayuni, Assistant Editor of the Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan) Hidenori Sato,
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group editorial adviser of the Star (Malaysia) NG Poh lip, Deputy Managing Director of the China Daily Zhou Li, Deputy Editor of the Straits limes (Singapore) Felix Soh, Editor- in-Chief ot the Korea Herald (South Korea) Choi Nam-hyun, Editor and Managing Director of the Statesman (India) Ravindra Kurnar, President of the Nation (Singapore) and Executive Director, ANN, Pana lanviroj. Editor, Political Section, of Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia) Scrath Nguon, Deputy' Editor-in -ChiefofVietnam News Nguyen Lien l.e, Editor-in-Chief of Vientiane limes (Laos) Savankhone Razmountry and director, Media Programme, Asia Kornad Adenauer Foundation Werner Vom Busch, were among others, on the delegation.
Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim was also present.
The CA told the media personalities that the Election Commission is about to finalise the electoral reforms through discussion with political parties, civil society and media people.
He mentioned reform measures taken as per demand of the people including a recast of the Election Commission, Anti-Corrupt ion Commission, and Public Service Commission and separation of the judiciary for sustainable democracy and good governance.
Regarding fair and neutral election, he said numerous questions were raised in 2006 about the stalled election scheduled for January 22, 2007. Accuracy of voter list is one of the preconditions for free, fair and neutral election, he added.
The Election Commission, now equipped with independent secretariat, has been working to this end, he told the eminent journalists of the Southeast Asian region.
He said preparation of voter list with photographs is going on in full swing. The Election Commission has completed 50 percent of the task and the EC is confident about com-pletingit within next fewmonths.
Regarding the ongoing anticorruption drive, he said those
accused of corruption are being brought to justice under the normal law of the land. The present caretaker government did not enact any new law for trial of the corruption suspects. '
He further said the government is also trying to find out ways to curb corruption by taking preventive strategies like simplification of rules and regulations and posting those on publicdomain.
He also mentioned the setting up of the national human rights commission, formulation of Right to Information Act, constitution of the Regulatory Reforms Commission and Better Business Forum.
The CA said the government also wants to strengthen local government system to strengthen the foundation of democracy is working tothisend.
He said the government also is carrying out efforts for socioeconomic development and hoped Bangladesh would be able to become a middle-income-group country in the near future.
On business and investment, he said the government will play regulatory role transparently for fast growth of private sector.
About the locus standi of his 14-month-old regime the chief adviser said the caretaker government is a constitutional government and he was sworn in according to provision of the constitution.