Adviser for law, justice and parliamentary affairs Asif Nazrul said that the next national elections could be arranged by the next year after completing the pre-election preparations, including formation of a new election commission through a search committee.
鈥業 think realistically, holding the election can be possible by the next year. There are many factors. This is a preliminary assumption to me,鈥� he said.
The adviser made the remarks when Daily Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury wanted to know about the election timing during a TV programme late Thursday night.
Asif said that a search committee would be formed soon to help form the new election commission. The new EC would then prepare a flawless voters鈥� list and then election would be held.
Responding to a question on ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 extradition,聽 the adviser said that there was an extradition treaty with India and Hasina should be returned to Bangladesh if India obeyed by the treaty.
He said that it would be protested strongly from the Bangladesh side if India tried to talk about a provision that it was not done in 鈥榞ood faith鈥�. 鈥業ndia is certainly bound to return Hasina if India honestly interprets this.鈥�
Asif mentioned that he had never said that any journalist would be tried in the International Crimes Tribunal. It was a big misinterpretation of what he actually said in overall context.
He said that chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus held the most of the consultations with the student leaders and it was logically done.
The adviser acknowledged tremendous work pressure on him and he had enjoyed much freedom in the past compared to the current position.
Seeking apology to the people, who are suffering due to the price hike of essential commodities, the adviser said that the government was working hard and taking joint efforts to improve the situation.
鈥業 am seeking apology to you. I feel so bad. This is intolerable to us. We are working very hard.
We are working together,鈥� he said.
Asif said that the impact of the floods was reducing and the winter was approaching. 鈥榃e expect the situation will improve to a great extent. In some areas, the situation has already started improving.
The adviser said that it was a syndicate, involved in importing commodities during the previous government. The syndicate was very powerful and not that much easy.
鈥楾he government is doing in every possible way to deal with the issues of essential commodities and highlighted the steps taken so far in cooling down the market,鈥� Asif said.
The adviser acknowledged that the issue gave mental pains to all of them in the government.
