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Upazila polls before JS elections: CA

UNB, Chandnaish, Chittagong
Chief Adviser Fakhruddln Ahmed yesterday said elections to upazila parishads would be held before general elections and the government will help ensure that the polls are free from the influence of black money and muscle power.
"The Election Commission has decided to hold upazila elections ahead of the general election. We also want that. God willing, upazila elections will be held first," he told the 'National Dialogue on Democratic Transition' held at Kashem Mahbub High School Auditorium.
This is the first formal dialogue outside the capital under the caretaker government's regional dia-
logueinitiative.
The chief adviser said his government would extend all cooperation to the Election Commission to ensure that the elections arc free from the influence of black money and muscle power.
He said the interim government wants to hold free and fair general elections with participation of all political parties to make sure the next elected government further consolidate democracy, improve governance and enhance quality of livelihood through economic development.
"We're not opponents of political parties. I've already said my advisers and 1 will not contest the elections nor will we remain in the
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government. We want participation of all parties in the elections," he said.
About the local government elections, he said true democracy cannot be established without strengthening the local government institutions, adding that the government has pushed through various laws to strengthen the local government system.
As part of the process, he said Local Government Commission will be set up.
On elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities slated for August 4, the chief adviser said the Emergency Power Rules were eased to allow politi-ciansto barnstorm.
“From this first phase of elections we want to gain experience so all future elections could be organised properly,” he told the audience.
About the parliamentary elections, Fakhruddin said the Election Commission has announced that the polls would be held in the third week of December.
He said preparations for the elections are at the final stage and a photograph-attached voter list of eight crore voters has been completed.
Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman moderated the dialogue.
LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader and Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff were pres-entatthetime.