US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena on Monday said both the leaders — Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia — have opened the doors to dialogue.
“We all heard the honourable prime minister just a couple of days ago made a statement in which, in my view, she opened the door to dialogue and we just heard a few hours ago the honourable leader of the opposition’s statement which also, in my view, opened the door to constructive dialogue. So, I find that very encouraging. The leaders of both parties have in my view opened the doors to dialogue,” he said.
Mozena came up with the view after holding a meeting with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office in the capital.
Voicing optimism about dialogue, Mozena said the lieutenants of the two major two parties will seize this opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue to find a way forward, an agreed way forward to a free and fair and credible election. “That’s my hope. So, I’m feeling optimistic that’s what will happen.”
The US envoy also said Khaleda Zia shared with him her commitment to countering violent extremism and terrorism. “I noted her commitment to protecting the vulnerable people, minorities, ethnic minorities, the religious minorities, I noted her commitment to building and sustaining good constructive relations with her neighbours, with Bangladesh’s neighbours.”
“The hourable leader of the opposition shared some of her views about what a possible government if she were elected,” Mozena said.
Asked whether Khaleda shared her views about the opposition’s October 25 rally, Mozena said, “We discussed the prospect for dialogue and we discussed the prospect for finding a way forward to holding a free, fair and credible election. I didn’t have any discussion along the negative line of your question.”
Responding to a query of imposing a ban and rallies, Mozena said, “My views on that peaceful meetings and demonstrations and rallies are an important part of democratic process and it’s incumbent upon everyone to find a way to hold a such democratic practices in a way consistent with sustaining the peace and security.”
Source: UNB Connect
