Local
Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Adviser AF Hasan Arif yesterday
(Sunday, September 22) 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 roads
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.