Staff Correspondent

Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Adviser AF Hasan Arif today said the interim government is working to establish a democratic environment in the country so that public representatives, to be elected through free and fair polls, can run the state.

"We are working as trustees of the students, the people and the workers . . . We are working to establish a democratic environment through which people's representatives can run the state being elected in a free and fair election," he said.

Hasan Arif, also the land adviser said this when a US delegation led by US Embassy's Charge d' Affaires Helen LaFave called on him at his Bangladesh Secretariat office, said a press release.

The adviser hoped that the US support for the interim government would contribute to the democratic practices in Bangladesh.

He sought the international donors' cooperation for public health and infrastructure development and economic prosperity.

During the meeting, there was a detailed discussion on the development of relations between Bangladesh and the USA, according to the release.

Referring to the ongoing unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Hasan Arif said, "I visited Rangamati yesterday (Saturday). I discussed there. Conspiracy is being hatched from outside to destroy harmony in CHT, including Rangamati."

He said nobody knew where the attackers came from to carry out these attacks. A strong investigation committee has been formed to find out who is behind this, he added.

In the meeting, the US Charge d' Affairs put emphasis on the importance of women empowerment and urban health programs in Bangladesh.

Regarding this, the LGRD adviser said the women are working in the rural roads construction under the local government engineering department, as cleaners in the municipalities and city corporations while the secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division is also a woman.

Local Government Division's Additional Secretary Md Nazrul Islam, Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator AHM Kamruzzaman and USAID Mission Director Reed J. Eschliman, among others were present during the meeting.