The chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, has said the government will lift restrictions on indoor politics from today to create a congenial atmosphere aiming at holding dialogue with the political parties.

Fakhruddin made the announcement in his address to the nation aired on Sunday by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels on Sunday night.

The chief adviser firmly said his government would hand over power to the elected people’s representatives after organising an election within the stipulated time.

‘Our ultimate goal is not only holding a peaceful election but to give democracy a permanent shape as democracy is the best way to ensure human emancipation and achieve progress,’ he said.

He said ‘our efforts to create an environment free from corruption and muscle power and establishing a solid foundation of good governance will continue so that our march towards building a progressive and democratic society is not hampered in future.’

The chief adviser in his 24-minute speech also covered different activities and actions of the caretaker government including anti-corruption drive, preparation of voter list and voter ID cards and its future goal towards holding a free, fair and credible election.

Regarding the armed forces, he said, they are very professional and they have been playing a very praiseworthy role in improving law and order, taking part in relief and disaster management and development programmes along with participating in the peace missions under the UN for the interest of the nation.

‘At present, they are significantly assisting the caretaker government, especially to check serious crimes, curbing corruption and terrorism and conducting relief and rehabilitation activities among the flood-hit people,’ he added.

Besides, the chief adviser said, the armed forces are also playing a significant role in preparing voter ID cards with photographs.

‘Our armed forces are very much cordial to provide their assistance aiming at ensuring establishment of real democracy in the country through holding a free, fair and impartial election,’ he said.

Referring to anti-corruption drive of the government, Fakhruddin said the national task force on anti-corruption would not publish new list of corrupt people after this month.

But, he said, other agencies of the government will continue their anti- corruption activities as per law and regulations.

Stressing the need for united efforts from government and private levels to prevent corruption, he said it was not possible for the government alone to achieve final success in curbing corruption.

‘It needs to exercise good wishes at individual, family, social and political levels and also practising morality and values at all stages for building a corruption-free society,’ he added.

The chief adviser said from the very beginning, the government remained strongly determined to eradicate corruption.

A section of corrupt people plundered thousand of crores of taka in their real and fake names in the past by misusing their power and influence, he said.

Under this circumstance, he said, the government took steps to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission to check their misdeeds.

‘As a result of our concerted efforts different individuals have returned Tk 820 crore which they had earned through corrupt practices and other unholy means,’ he added.

Referring to the unfortunate incident that took place on Dhaka University campus recently, he said, although the government fulfilled the demands of the students, but unfortunately a rowdy group was indulged in destructive activities in Dhaka and other places of the country.

He said at one stage, the government had to impose curfew in divisional towns and close all public universities and colleges as the anarchic activities were not stopped.

He said the government had withdrawn the curfew as the situation calmed down and a one-member judicial committee was constituted with a retired judge to probe the incident.

Elaborating the situation, the chief adviser said after the unexpected incident first information report was filed against several thousand unidentified persons.

After investigation under the existing laws, the police filed cases against 36 persons including four university teachers of the University of Dhaka, he said adding the final report was submitted giving amnesty to the rest of the unidentified persons.

He assured all that no case would be lodged against anyone and nobody would be harassed in this connection.

Fakhruddin called upon all concerned including teachers and students to maintain peace and discipline on the campus for the sake of ensuring congenial academic atmosphere.

Fakhruddin said the government undertook a number of steps to rehabilitate the hawkers in the capital and they also had the opportunity to run their businesses in some other venues also.

The district and the upazila administrations have been directed to take necessary measures so that the small traders can run their business without any hassle, he added.

The chief adviser said steps were taken so that people could go to markets for Eid shopping during Ramadan.

Fakhruddin said the government took initiatives for smoothly running of the 18 nationalised jute mills and also decided in principle to make the closed private jute mills operational on short-term lease basis.

Referring to price hike of essentials, the chief adviser said, the countrywide open market sale would begin from today to keep the price of rice stable.

The government will sell each kilogram of rice at Tk 19 although its import price is Tk 25, he said adding import of 9 lakh tonnes of food grains has been finalised.

Fakhruddin said import of rice and wheat in private sector also increased during the last two months as the rate of interest were reduced.

He said the programmes like OMS, VGF, VGD and Kabikha would also be helpful to keep the food price stable.

Pointing to BDR’s ‘Operation Dal Bhat’, the chief adviser said, the programme had been strengthened further and a large number of consumers were getting benefit of the programme.

He said the price of hilsa fish reduced as a result of drives against catching of jatka and stopping hilsa export.

Fakhruddin said process of setting up of four new vegetable wholesale markets around the capital had already been started. Besides, the BDR also established three wholesale markets, he added.

He unequivocally said his government was pledged-bound to discharge the responsibility vested on them until holding of the next general election within December 2008.

Referring to voter list, he said, the government would provide all support to the Election Commission to hold the election within the shortest possible time immediately after preparation of voter ID cards with photographs.

About government steps to face the current flood, the chief adviser said the present government had undertaken various measurers in tackling the flood and conducting relief and rehabilitation programmes.

He said people from all walks of life had come forward in aid of the flood-affected people and many individuals and organisations had donated about Tk 65 crore to the Chief Adviser’s Relief and Welfare Fund.

‘Such types of fellow feelings during any natural calamities reflect the unity of a nation,’ he added.

The chief adviser said the government under its post-flood rehabilitation programme was providing foods and assistance for house building among the affected people.

‘We have undertaken a massive programme to distribute seeds, seedlings and fertilisers among the farmers so that they can overcome their losses caused by the flood,’ he added.

Fakhruddin the government was utilising Tk 2,100 crore, allocated in maintenance sector in the current budget to construct physical infrastructures damaged by the flood.

Giving details, he said, the government introduced VGF programme in 41 districts for the ultra-poor people for next four months. Besides, he said, the government has significantly increased overall budget allocation in social safety net for them.

The chief adviser sought cooperation and support from all classes of people of the country to achieve the goal of the government.

He said the countrywide drives against adulteration had been continuing for ensuring quality of products to protect consumer’s rights.

The chief adviser also reminded the business community about their social responsibility in keeping the prices of essentials at a tolerable level.

Thanking the participants in the business dialogue on September 5, Fakhruddin said, ‘I want to assure the business community once again that the government would look into their affairs so that the businessmen do not get harassed unnecessarily and can run their business without any fear’.

He said the government had taken initiatives to meet the power deficit by next three to four years.

The chief adviser hoped that additional 200MW power would be generated by December next and 370MW more power would be added by June next year.

Fakhruddin said proper measures had been taken by the PDB, REB, DESA and the DESCO to reduce system loss.