He said this at a regular briefing when asked about the US State Department's reported plea to hold the elections in the country "as early as possible".

He also said the people of Bangladesh would create their own destiny by solving their problems themselves, not at the dictates of outsiders.

"Bangladesh is in charge of its own destiny," he said.

When asked whether the foreign diplomats are interfering in internal affairs by making comments on domestic politics frequently, the adviser said they (foreign diplomats) have the right to show their "interest" in Bangladesh but do not have the right to "interfere".

"Bangladeshis are now sitting in the driving seat to build their own destiny," he said with confidence. "We will make our own efforts to resolve the problems we are facing."

About the voting rights of Bangladeshi expatriates, he said it is a longstanding demand placed by the Bangladeshis having dual citizenship, but there are some practical difficulties that need to be worked out.

The adviser informed the diplomatic correspondents that Prime Minister of Kuwait Naser Mohammad al Ahmed al Jaber al Sabah has warmly congratulated Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on his appointment as the chief adviser to the caretaker government.

Kuwait Ambassador in Bangladesh Abdullah al-Mawash met Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday and handed over the felicitation letter. The advisor termed the felicitation letter as "significant".

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Dhaka V Krishnamoorthy called on the foreign affairs adviser yesterday morning and appreciated the measures taken by the caretaker government to bring "real democracy" to Bangladesh.