Bangladesh is an island of stability in South Asia, says government adviser
2008-01-02 12:55:35
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Bangladesh is «an island of stability» in South Asia, the country's foreign affairs adviser said Wednesday, one year after political violence led to a state of emergency.
«We used to hear that we are a failed state. We have come far from there,» said Iftekhar A. Chowdhury, a former envoy to the United Nations who is now foreign affairs adviser to the country's interim government.
«In a turbulent region, Bangladesh is an island of stability.
Following weeks of violent opposition protests before general elections scheduled for Jan. 22, 2007, the president declared a state of emergency, postponed the polls and appointed a nonparty interim government.
That government, headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, has the backing of the country's influential armed forces, and has received support from international development partners.
«Our aim has been to get the world community interested and involved in Bangladesh,» Chowdhury told reporters at a year-end briefing on the government's foreign policy.
Bangladesh saw a huge international response for emergency relief after a cyclone devastated the country's southern coast in November.
The government also mostly enjoys the support of a public fed up with political bickering, abuse of power and corruption.
A nationwide campaign against corruption and crime, which has put businessmen and top politicians _ including two former prime ministers _ behind bars, has widespread backing.
«My perception is we have got the whole nation behind us,» Chowdhury said of his government's main achievement.
But rising food and commodity prices, fertilizer and power shortages have plagued Ahmed's administration. Independent human rights groups, like Amnesty International, have also claimed abuses by security forces.
Officials blame the high prices on hikes in international markets. The government, meanwhile, has delegated troops to sell essential food items at controlled prices.
Chowdhury said human rights had to be part of any domestic policy.
«The government has to uphold human rights and stand against crimes against humanity in any form,» Chowdhury said, adding that the government had approved the formation of an independent human rights commission.
AI
