Chief Adviser affirms the goal of establishing a ‘sustainable foundation’ for democracy; BSF and BDR exchange fire at Baliadangi border in Thakurgaon district; Increase in flights between Dhaka and Delhi
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    • Even as the Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed affirmed that the ultimate goal of the caretaker government was to lay a sustainable foundation for democracy to flourish, the Law Adviser A.F. Hassan Ariff stated on February 14 that it was necessary to relax the state of emergency before the polls as it blocked the pre-election activities of the political parties1. The UK and the United States on their part have stressed that they believed in the Bangladeshi government’s assurance of holding elections before 20082. Bangladesh’s leading trade partner Germany has also called for the establishment of a democratic society in Bangladesh that upholds human rights, freedom of the press and the security of lives3.

    Meanwhile, in the domestic political front, reports noted that the pro-Saifur faction of the BNP and some other political parties on February 15 have initiated discussions on forming a new political alliance in order to win the upcoming election4. Reports also noted that the Awami League’s effort to form a grand electoral alliance before the elections was facing difficulties due to differences of opinion among key leaders in the party on the likely strategies to be adopted5.

    In other developments, Dhaka and Delhi signed a deal to double the number of weekly flights from 31 to 60. The BSF also handed over 18 Bangladeshi men, women and children, who were trafficked to India two years ago, to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) at Benapole check-post on February 126. Reports also noted that the BSF and BDR exchanged gunfire at several points on Baliadangi border in Thakurgaon district on February 107.

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