Holding polls not govt’s only responsibility

Just holding elections is not the sole responsibility of the current interim administration, since it is a revolutionary government, not a caretaker, Nahid Islam, adviser to the posts, telecommunications, and information technology ministry, said yesterday.

“Various commissions have already been formed for institutional reforms, and polls will be held after the reforms are completed,” he said.

The adviser made the remarks during a meeting with Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Prof Luis Franceschi at the ministry’s office, said a press release of the ministry.

Mentioning that the judicial process to ensure justice for the victims of mass killings during the July-August uprising is ongoing, he said the government requires assistance from the Commonwealth to ensure an impartial trial.

He also sought support from the Commonwealth nations in building a new Bangladesh.

Nahid mentioned that the interim government has received support from all over the world, which is still pouring in.

Prof Franceschi praised the current government’s efforts towards democratic reforms and assured that the Commonwealth would support the ongoing reform initiatives, including electoral process reforms, in every possible way.

He stated that it is the Commonwealth’s commitment to work with the interim government to build an inclusive, prosperous, and discrimination-free Bangladesh, said the release.

“The Commonwealth is always with Bangladesh, and it is keen to work with the country in areas such as education, information technology, media, cyber security, and artificial intelligence,” added Franceschi.

Nahid reiterated that the interim government is working for the country’s transition from an autocratic or non-democratic regime to a democratic one.

He stressed the importance of support from the Commonwealth countries in this regard, saying that the interim government is ready to take any action that serves the national interest.

Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Mushfiqur Rahman, acting ICT secretary Muhammad Mehedi Hasan, Commonwealth Adviser and Head of Asia Dinusha Nihara, along with other senior officials, were present at the meeting.

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