Kofi Annan's concern

Mr. Annan also expressed anxiety over pre-election violence, a phenomenon that gets widespread coverage in the international media, and hoped that all political parties would make necessary compromise to ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral environment.

From the statement of the outgoing UN Secretary General, it becomes quite apparent that the doings and undoings of the CG since assuming power have been so blatantly evident that our international development partners deemed it as a call of conscience to come up with some friendly advice. We believe his statement was built on the report submitted by a senior UN official who had visited the country last month and had held meetings with political leaders of all denomination.

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Kofi Annan's counsel to the CG for creating a level playing field for all the players in the ensuing election coincides with what the people in Bangladesh have been thinking all along since the four-party alliance government stepped down at the end of its term. With democracy having tremendous prospects to flourish in Bangladesh where a multi-party democratic system is already in place, the call from the experienced UN chief should be taken with due seriousness by the CG, especially by the chief adviser of the caretaker government. It is more because of his inept handling of the affairs of the CG from the very outset that doubts in the minds of all, at home and abroad, have found root. With some damaging, whimsical and unilateral decisions chief adviser cum President Iajuddin Ahmed has made the CG controversial. The resignation of the four competent advisers and deployment of the army were two last nails in the coffin. While the CG has been doing more damage than damage control, we have no option left but to keep on worrying about the fate of the election.

We hope this time around a good advice will not fall on deaf ear what with so many advisers still around in the CG. And when it comes from a friend of Bangladesh we should actually welcome it without any hesitation.