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Former US President Carter to Assess Bangladeshi Election Environment
Former US President Jimmy Carter was accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here early Thursday morning on a three-day visit to assess atmosphere in the run up to general election.
Barrister Ishtiaq Ahmed, Advisor to the caretaker government in charge of the Law Ministry and Acting Foreign Secretary Mohsin Ali received the U.S. dignitary.
Observers feel that Carter's visit demonstrate the support of the international community for a fair and peaceful election in Bangladesh.
Carter's visit is part of the non-governmental initiatives by global organizations to watch the coming parliamentary election.
The former U.S. president will meet the Chief Advisor Justice Latifur Rahman Thursday. He will also have a working lunch with the chief advisor, to which Awami League President and immediate past prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former prime minister and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Khaleda Zia have been invited.
Carter will also meet the chief election commissioner and call on President Shahabuddin Ahmed.
Carter heads a five-member international delegation organized by the Washington-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Atlanta-based Carter Center.
Four other members of the NDI and Carter Center are already in the capital.
Meanwhile, caretaker government chief Latifur Rahman on Wednesday appealed for international assistance to hold a free and fair election.
He told foreign diplomats based in Dhaka that Bangladesh was seeking cooperation from rest of the world in holding the polls.
Latifur Rahman, who took office on July 15, after parliament was dissolved on completion of its full five-year term, is reshuffling the administration from top to bottom in a bid to hold a clean election, which Awami League is opposing.
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