Voicing deep concern over widespread violence in Bangladesh that has left dozens of people dead since last month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also spoke to President Abdul Hamid the day when he called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resolve differences over upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for January through dialogue.
He spoke with the Prime Minister and President over phone as a senior UN political official, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, wrapped up a five-day visit to Bangladesh with a warning that the current political crisis is exacting a heavy, human, social and economic toll, seriously threatening the hard-earned economic and social progress that Bangladesh has achieved, according to a news release of UN News Centre.
“The leaders have shown statesmanship,” told a news conference in Dhaka of his meetings with government and opposition leaders and election officials. “It remains critical to reduce tension and to continue to engage in constructive dialogue so as to create a congenial atmosphere.
There are measures that would contribute immensely: a call by all sides to end the violence, the release of opposition political leaders, and a mutually satisfactory solution to concerns regarding the election schedule.”
The major parties have so far failed to resolve their differences over the conduct of elections and supporters of both parties have been clashing with each other and with the security forces. Scores of people have been killed, hundreds injured, and there has been extensive destruction of property.
“At this moment the world is remembering Nelson Mandela’s legacy,” Mr. Fernandez-Taranco said, referring to the South Africa’s first black President who died last week. “Please allow me to quote his words from the visit he made to Bangladesh in March 1997: ‘a nation united in pursuit of shared goals can overcome the most difficult problems.”
He added that there is ground for an agreement and the country’s leaders must continue their dialogue in the spirit of good will and compromise.
“Bangladeshis expect them to work together constructively to decrease tensions and to find mutually agreeable solutions for free, fair, inclusive and non-violent elections,” he stressed.
At the beginning of December, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged the country’s political leaders to immediately halt “destructive brinkmanship” and use their influence to ease the unrest.
Source: UNB Connect
