US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis in Rajshahi
Butenis tells Rajshahi chamber leaders
She was speaking at a meeting with the leaders of the business community at Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI).
"I think it (state of emergency) is not viable and democracy should be the ultimate destination", Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Director Kabirur R Khan quoted the US envoy as saying while seeking the opinions of the businessmen.
Bangladesh seems to be back on track and there should be a time frame for holding elections, she added.
"We told her that we are happy with the current government activities that are helping speed up economic progress", said RCCI President Hasen Ali.
RCCI Directors Khondokar M Hafiz and Fazlur Rahman were also present at the meeting.
Earlier, Butenis visited Sarada Police Academy in the morning where she delivered a speech for trainee police officers and teachers.
Academy Principal Mokhlesur Rahman said the US envoy spoke on developing the academic curriculum and use of modern equipment in training.
Butenis also called on Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Anis Uddin Manjur at his office. They discussed about economic development, smuggling, trafficking, security situations and terrorism in the region.
The US envoy enquired about people's feelings on current emergency situations in persons and expressed her concern about trafficking.
She also visited Barendra Research Museum (BRM) and the bank of the river Padma.
Rajshahi University Vice Chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain and senior RU teachers accompanied her while visiting the RU-run BRM.
"I find amazing, amazing collections, you should all be very proud of what you have there (BRM)...the beautiful sculptures of Hindu, Buddhas and some Muslim period pieces... These are just among most beautiful pieces in the world I am sure", said the US envoy on her BRM visit.
Meanwhile, the government is taking some 24 BRM treasures to France for giving these a global exposure in an international fair at Guimet Museum in Paris later this year.
Butenis is scheduled to meet a number of political figures and visit Rajshahi University and a local NGO today.
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/april/17/muslim_world_news/us_happy_with_bangladeshs_interim_government.html
US 'happy' with Bangladesh's interim government
Posted April 17th, 2007 by Tarique
Dhaka, April 17 (IANS) US Ambassador Patricia Butenis praised Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed, the head of Bangladesh's caretaker government, for indicating a timeframe for holding elections even as state officials clinched a departure "deal" with former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
The caretaker government "has attained a lot of achievements in a short time and is enjoying tremendous popular support," Butenis was quoted as saying.
Media reports of the "courtesy call" paid by her Monday, however, made no mention of fast-moving political developments elsewhere in the country.
Zia has agreed to leave Bangladesh with most of her family members as part of a government "deal" concluded late Monday, while her arch rival, Sheikh Hasina, is currently in the US.
Butenis appreciated Ahmed's Saturday address to the nation when he said the elections would take place in end-2008. She said the US government "is satisfied with the caretaker government's performance," United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency said.
A pro-active diplomat, Butenis has been in the thick of the developments leading to and after the general elections, due Jan 11, were called off amidst weeks of political turmoil. She was one of the diplomats engaging various parties and trying to resolve their differences.
US officials have expressed their keenness on Bangladesh holding elections and returning to democracy. However, the emergence of an un-elected interim government that is widely perceived as "army-backed" and "army-guided", has been a point of criticism.
The New York Times last Saturday for the first time criticised the Bush administration for "ignoring" this phenomenon. It also cautioned the new Bangladeshi authorities that taking recourse to the "Pakistani path" of military rule was no answer to Islamic radicalism.
Butenis said the Election Commission is carrying out its jobs, including electoral reforms, as per its commitment, the Daily Star said.
"We are pleased with the activities of the Election Commission and have offered assistance to this organisation," the envoy said.
She said the US government "is observing the caretaker government's activities positively". She added that if a new Bangladesh ambassador to Washington is appointed, bilateral cooperation would be further enhanced.
In response, Ahmed said the Election Commission needed logistic support, and "a coordinated cooperation of the development partners will be helpful".
The Ahmed government has decided to seek foreign funding for carrying out "electoral reforms" that includes updating of electoral rolls and preparation and issuing of photo identity cards for the voters.
Ahmed assured Butenis that "the task of the Election Commission towards holding elections and the government's other activities, including keeping wheels of the economy moving, will go simultaneously".
He also informed Butenis about his meeting with US assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs Richard Boucher in New Delhi on the sidelines of the recent 14th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit, reports said.
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