Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives
Adviser AF Hasan Arif on Sunday said the interim government is working to
establish a democratic environment in the country so that public
representatives, to be elected through free and fair polls, can run the state.
"We are working as trustees of the students, the people
and the workers . . . We are working to establish a democratic environment
through which people's representatives can run the state being elected in a
free and fair election," he said.
Hasan Arif, also the land adviser said this when a US
delegation led by US Embassy's Charge d' Affaires Helen LaFave called on him at
his Bangladesh Secretariat office, said a press release. The adviser hoped that
the US support for the interim government would contribute to the democratic
practices in Bangladesh.
He sought the international donors' cooperation for public
health and infrastructure development and economic prosperity. During the
meeting, there was a detailed discussion on the development of relations
between Bangladesh and the USA, according to the release.
Referring to the ongoing unrest in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT), Hasan Arif said, "I visited Rangamati yesterday (Saturday).
I discussed there. Conspiracy is being hatched from outside to destroy harmony
in CHT, including Rangamati."
He said nobody knew where the attackers came from to carry
out these attacks. A strong investigation committee has been formed to find out
who is behind this, he added. In the meeting, the US Charge d' Affairs put
emphasis on the importance of women empowerment and urban health programs in
Bangladesh.
Regarding this, the LGRD adviser said the women are working
in the rural road’s construction under the local government engineering
department, as cleaners in the municipalities and city corporations while the
secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division is also a woman.
Local Government Division's Additional Secretary Md Nazrul
Islam, Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator AHM Kamruzzaman and USAID
Mission Director Reed J. Eschliman, among others were present during the
meeting.
