Staff Correspondent
Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Adviser AF Hasan Arif today 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.
" 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 can run the state. "We are working as trustees of the students Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Adviser AF Hasan Arif today said the interim government is working to establish a democratic environment in the country so that public representatives Staff Correspondent Local Government 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 to be elected through free and fair polls
