Commonwealth assistant secretary general professor Luis Gabriel Franceschi on Monday said that Commonwealth countries would stand by Bangladesh as he called on posts, telecommunications and information technology adviser Md Nahid Islam at the latter鈥檚 ministry office in Dhaka.
Professor Luis Franceschi praised the interim government鈥檚 efforts towards democratic reforms and assured that the Commonwealth would support the ongoing reform initiatives, including electoral process reforms, in every possible way.
He stated that it was Commonwealth鈥檚 commitment to work with the interim government to build an inclusive, prosperous, and discrimination-free Bangladesh.
鈥楥ommonwealth is always with Bangladesh and it is keen to work with the country in areas such as education, information technology, media, cyber security, and artificial intelligence,鈥� added Franceschi.
Nahid Islam mentioned that the interim government had received support from all over the world, which is still pouring in.
He also clarified that the current interim government was not a caretaker government, rather it鈥檚 a revolutionary one, saying, 鈥楾herefore, its sole responsibility is not just to hold elections.鈥�
The adviser, however, said that various commissions were formed for institutional reforms, and elections would be held after these reforms were completed.
Mentioning that judicial process for the mass-killing during the July-August uprising was ongoing, he said that the government required assistances from the Commonwealth to ensure an impartial trial.
He also sought support of Commonwealth nations in building a new Bangladesh.
The adviser reiterated that the interim government was working for the country鈥檚 transition from an autocratic or non-democratic regime to a democratic one.
He said that the interim government was ready to take any action that serves the national interest.
Posts and telecommunications division secretary Md Mushfiqur Rahman, acting ICT division secretary Muhammad Mehedi Hasan, Commonwealth adviser and head of Asia Dinusha Nihara, along with other senior officials were present.