Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday said the state of emergency persists as the caretaker government wants to establish rule of law and safeguard the nation from political anarchy.
"There's no need for the state of emergency to protect the 10 advisers. We're keeping it according to our constitution for the greater interest of the nation, not for the caretaker government itself," Mainul said while addressing as the chief guest a programme of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB).
He also said the caretaker government does not interfere in the media in publishing news and views in the name of emergency state.
"Newspapers as the fourth state of a nation can publish all kinds of news amid emergency because we want cooperation from journalists to establish a corruption free nation," he said.
Mainul was speaking at the inaugural function of a 15-day mass-awareness raising programme styled "One year of Change under Present Caretaker Government" organised by the Department of Mass Communication (DMC) at the PIB auditorium.
"We're in the government for a short time but working to establish a permanent system," the adviser said. He also pointed out the difference between the previous and present caretaker governments, saying they have rounded up top politicians under a massive purge.
He mentioned the entire package of reforms taken up by them in the last one year like institutional reforms in the Election Commission (EC), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Public Service Commission (PSC), recruiting agencies for overseas employment, Chittagong Seaport shipment system, separation of the judiciary from the executive, and development in various service sectors like establishing the Citizen Charter, One Stop Service for police clearance certificate and passport related problems.
The law adviser also said they are working to establish a people's government through holding a free, fair and acceptable election after accomplishing various institutional reforms.
"These changes may cause problems to some vested quarters, but the people will gradually get the benefit for a longer term," he observed.
Terming the present caretaker regime a reformist and crisis management government, Mainul said they on priority basis have taken up some reform initiatives to strengthen the foundation of democratic system and establish good governance.
He listed institutional and economic reforms, service-sector development, food safety and supply situation and freedom of information and mass media.
Curbing corruption from all strata of society is one of the mandates of the government aiming at establishing an equitable society and fair administration for honest and competent people, he added.
He said the government has created an avenue for democracy, development and tranquillity in the country in the last one year through anti-corruption drives and reform measurers.
The adviser urged the civil society, media representatives and the administration to work unitedly to check terrorism, corruption and crime.
Presiding over the function, Information Secretary Jamil Osman said the DMC is a responsible service institution and works at the grassroots level to disseminate necessary information through popular media like bioscope, films, songs, discussion, meeting and street drama.