DHAKA: Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Monday said the all polls-time government is providing all out support to the election commission for holding the 10th parliamentary elections in a free, fair, credible and peaceful manner.

“The all-party election-time government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is providing all out support to the Election Commission for holding the 10th parliamentary elections,” he said.

The foreign minister came up with the assertion in a briefing this afternoon given to the Ambassadors and diplomatic Heads of Missions in Bangladesh from South and South East Asian countries.  

Adviser to the Prime Minister for International Affairs Dr Gowher Rizvi and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were also present during the briefing.

Ali reaffirmed the government’s strong resolve to thwart any attempts of terrorism by these enemies of the State in the name of blockades and hartals against peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections and the War Crimes Tribunals, challenging the very statehood of Bangladesh and crippling the country’s economy and communication system.

He particularly assured that all the regional Ambassadors that the Election-time government would leave no stone unturned to heighten and ensure full safety and security of the Diplomatic Missions in Bangladesh as well as foreign nationals including students and expatriate workers from their countries living in Bangladesh during these critical period preceding the elections.

The SAARC and ASEAN Ambassadors thanked the Election-Time government and expressed their satisfaction for the additional security measures provided for the diplomatic areas in Gulshan and Baridhara.  

They assured that with the high level of support and protection provided by the government they feel safer and secure in moving around Dhaka even during these days of blockades and hartals.

BDST: 2120 HRS, DEC 23, 2013
Edited by: M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor