BRIEFING TO ALL DIPLOMATIC HEADS OF MISSION IN DHAKA

Fakhruddin Memorial Hall
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
15 January 2008 at 15:00 hrs

- I am beholden to you for responding to my invitation at such short notice. Since the assumption of my responsibilities, I have always sought to interact with you, particularly during what I perceived as watershed points as the Care Taker Government's role evolved. Indeed this is our fourth meeting in this mode, and since this is the first time I am having such a meeting this year, I want to wish you all a very happy 2008.

- We have had an eventful year. At all times, through 2007, the goal remained the stated one of holding a free fair and credible election before the end of December 2008. Much of the year was taken up by efforts to create appropriate circumstances to enable this to take place. It included institutional reforms such as the setting up of a strong and independent Election Commission to carry forward the principal mandate, a powerful Public Service Commission to depoliticize the bureaucracy and bring about its neutrality, a sweeping anti-corruption drive spearheaded by the Anti-corruption Commission which is yielding results, separation of judiciary from the executive and measures to render the judiciary independent, decision to strengthen local government and bring governance to the doorstep of the people, adoption of law setting up a Human Rights Commission, and strong monitoring any human rights violations seeking to reduce them to the minimum and with the goal of eliminating them altogether. In other words, the whole endeavour has been to strengthen the concepts and foundations of the rule of law, and improving governance in a way that would not only aid the holding of elections but ensure the structures thus set up would be sustainable even afterwards. We also signed a number of International Conventions to bring these actions in line with globally acceptable norms and standards.

- At the same time we are proceeding on course along the Road Map announced by the Election Commission. The implementation of the Photo Electoral Roll target is on tract and 24.7 million voters have been registered, including yours sincerely. This is designed not only to correct the flawed vote role but also to lay the foundation for a comprehensive National ID Card system. The PERP data base will contain all vital information on our citizens, including photographs, blood groups, finger prints, and so on. This will hopefully have far reaching positive externalities, especially in our development planning efforts.

- A major problem the government faced was the price-hike which remained stubbornly-high despite several methods of market interventions. Of most major concern was food price and the threatened shortages. Perhaps due to the measures I speak of such as the OMS, and the market signals emanating from impart efforts, the market price has largely stabilized. As for external procurement we are close to signing and agreement for import of 500,000 tons from India. There are on-going discussions with other potential sources, though for smaller amounts from Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan. Also an appeal for an additional 500,000 tons has been reach by the Chief Adviser to the donors. Out of this we have already received firm assurances of 200,000 tons (Saudi Arabia, WFP and India).

- Aware that the answer to this problem is self-sufficiency, we are making maximum efforts to ensure that particularly with regard to the ensuring 'boro' harvest in March-April this year. The target output is 17 mn tons (16.9 to be more exact). If we can expand the acreage somewhat and use more HYVs, there is no reason why we should not have adequate stocks by March-April. In fact I myself have traveled to Mymensingh and Netrokona, Sunamgonj, Sylhet - the boro producing regions - to instill enthusiasm in this drive among farmers and relevant officials. As to inputs, we have spoken to some of you on fertilizer and have receive some encouraging replies.

- There are one other hiccup I would like to touch upon. The release of the students and University teachers, which is I understand close to resolution. There is a perception of the government's honest intention in the relevant questions. Some comment of politics is involved, but by the weekend the matter should be resolved.

- The nation is turning round from the natural calamities we experienced in 2007 - the triple jeopardy of two natural disasters and 'Sidr' which wreaked havoc on the economy. As you are aware that early preparations and response in the best possible manner we could were largely able to contain the impact in the aftermath. Indeed the rapidity of our reactions has earned wider acclaims. The Chief Adviser has shared with you his vision of a long-term plan to develop Southern Bangladesh and projects are on the charming-based in this regard.

- The socio-economic transformation of Bangladesh continues in the meanwhile camping forward the silent revolutions of change, of women's empowerment, of their mainstreaming in the economy, of poverty alleviation through micro-credit and other means, of the spread of education, of the marginalization of extremism. It is this model of a Bangladesh, an island of calm amidst a sea of turbulence, that the Chief Adviser will seek to project at Davos, where he will be traveling in the third week of January. You are all aware that the captains of industry and public and private "movers and shakers" of the global economy gather at Davos every year to hear one another and make over issues of development, progress and prosperity. This is the first time Bangladesh will be present there at the level of Head of government. Prof. Klaus Schwarz, the head of the WEF, has specially invited the Chief Adviser to share the Bangladesh experience with the attendees.

- Alongside the developments at home we are also playing an extremely active role in the international arena. In November last year we were elected as the Chair of the 50 LDCs unanimously in New York. We were very active in the Bali Climate Change Conference, particularly in the establishment of the Adaptation Board. We are continuing our efforts for a Technology Transfer Board under the new Climate Change Agreement. We are monitoring the evolving situation in Darfur Sudan very closely with a view to responding to the UN call for peacekeeping deployment an area in which we occupy one of the foremost positions as contributors.

- This year will, hopefully, be a significant year in Bangladesh's history, that will set a very positive trend for our political evolution into a stable and sustainable pluralist democracy. The recent speech of the Chief Adviser contains three elements that sets the tone : first, easing of restriction on indoor politics; secondly, commencement of dialogue with the political parties in the near future and thirdly, lifting of the State of Emergency at an appropriate time, all that to lead to a free, fair and credible elections, most certainly before the end of December 2008, and if possible even earlier. Changes in the structure of the Government were undertaken with a view to adding impetus to this process, and the re-structured team is clearly focused on this objective.

- The government wishes to make it absolutely clear that it will be absolutely impartial and neutral in the organization of the elections. There cannot be, will not be any scope to doubt its good intentions. This will be entirely upto the people to choose as to who are to govern. It is our hope that all concerned will display due maturity and conduct themselves in a manner that will not result in the kind of chaos that we had seen earlier. In the ultimate analysis this will be the litmus test of the success of all our endeavours. This is what, in our view, the people of this country look to.

- The government views each one of you as a friend of Bangladesh: we deeply appreciate the support that all of you have accorded us to date. Now as we approach the denoement, the final critical stages, we will count on your support, even more than ever before. The international community, you and us, most calibrate our efforts, to demonstrate to the world that democratic fruition can be, must be, stabilizing, this phenomenon is replicable worldwide, and this redounds to everyone's benefit.