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No alternative to accountability for good governance: Hasina
11/16/2005
Leader of the opposition and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina Tuesday told a World Bank (WB) delegation that development strategies cannot be separated from politics for ensuing good governance, reports agencies.
"There is no alternative to accountability for good governance. Without accountability, good governance cannot be ensured. We have been experiencing over last four years that if the election is not free and fair, the government has no accountability," Hasina said the delegation.
A seven-member delegation of the WB led by its Vice-president Praful C Patel met Hasina at her residence in the city.
WB Country Director Christina Wallich and Awami League leaders Kazi Zafrullah, MP, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Saber Hossain Chowdhury were also present on the occasion.
The WB vice president is now in Dhaka to attend the three-day meeting of the forum for implementing the PRSP (poverty reduction strategy).
Emerging from more than an hour-long call on the Bangladeshi opposition leader, Patel said government's strategy for poverty reduction is a continuous process, which should be carried on.
"For overall development of the country, economic and political issues are very important," Patel said who dubbed the meeting as a courtesy call and an "effective one".
"We discussed issues which will be discussed during the PRSP forum meeting and the meeting was successful," he added. Patel said the opposition leader supported the agenda of the World Bank in pursuing poverty reduction and development.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the next general election is very important for good governance and a consensus among the development partners and donors is needed to make the next election free, fair and impartial.
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