COX'S BAZAR, Oct 19: The interim government has apparently distanced itself by refusing to endorse the statements of the law adviser and the army chief about the possibility of general elections being held next year.
Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain on Friday remarked that Gen Waker-uz-Zaman and Asif Nazrul's remarks regarding the tentative election timing are not the official statements of the government.
He emphasised that their comments on the matter are merely their own 'personal statements'.
Khalid made the comments while speaking with the reporters at the Hilldown Circuit House in Cox's Bazar.
While referring to the elections, the religion adviser said: "A government has fallen. An interim government has been installed to fill out the remainder of the government's term. A bigger issue than that is the matter of state reform. If elections are held without reforms, then the state will remain unbalanced. This is why the government is working diligently on the reforms."
The interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on Aug 8. However, the government has not announced any specific outline for an election.
According to Bangladesh's constitution, elections must take place within 90 days of the dissolution of a parliament. In case that cannot happen due to a natural disaster, the election must take place within the next 90 days.
—bdnews24.com
