Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said that the state of emergency would be lifted at an appropriate time in the transitional process, reports UNB.

The Chief Adviser made the remark in an interview with the BBC in London Tuesday, facing a host of question over the country''s prevailing situation. BBC special correspondent Nik Gowing also asked Dr Fakhruddin when the army will return to barracks.

In reply, the head of caretaker government said the army is assisting the caretaker government in improving law and order, doing post-Sidr relief and rehabilitation works and preparing voters'' list to hold a free and fair election.

Dr Fakhruddin said the army is working as a helping hand of the government in the fight against corruption and crimes, and particularly the army is playing an outstanding role in formulating a flawless voter list.

BBC also asked the Chief Advisor about the reported deterioration of human rights situation in Bangladesh. The Chief Advisor said the human-right situation is much better than any other times of Bangladesh. "The number of individual incidents of human rights violation has gone down.

An independent Human Rights Commission is being set up," he said. The Chief Advisor also refuted an allegation that the press in Bangladesh is being controlled under the emergency. He said newspapers and electronic media are enjoying freedom and they were allowed to criticize the government.

Dr Fakhruddin also attended a press conference at Bangladesh High Commission, attended by Bangladeshi-British journalists, on Wednesday. The Chief Advisor narrated the outcome of his talks with British Prime Minister Gordown Brown and other British Ministers. He said he raised the concern with the British Prime Minister over the shortage of staff at the Bangladeshi-run curry restaurants in the UK.

He requested Prime Minister Brown to allow semi-skilled people from Bangladesh to work as chefs in the restaurants. In reply to a question, the Chief Advisor said there is no food crisis in Bangladesh, as he observed there is enough food in stock.

However, he agreed that prices of rice and other commodities have gone up due to price hike on the international market. Asked about the ''minus-two'' formula to exclude Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina from active politics, Dr Fakhruddin said he is not aware of it but added the reform in political party is the demand of the people.

He hoped that the reforms undertaken by the Election Commission would bring about a lot of changes in political parties. Asked about controversy over the holding of the local-body elections prior to general election, Dr Fakhruddin said elections would be held based on new voters list for those local bodies whose terms have expired.

He observed that national elections would not be hampered by the local elections. About holding trial of the war criminals, he said the incumbent government has time constraint to do it.