UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern about the latest wave of deadly violence in Bangladesh ahead of the parliamentary elections due by January.
“He calls on all concerned to respect the rule of law, exercise restraint and to express their views peacefully,” Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement today.
Ban is hopeful that the recent steps to initiate dialogue will continue, the spokesperson added, and urges all parties to ensure an environment “conducive to credible and peaceful elections.”
The latest outbreak of fighting has reportedly killed at least a dozen people and injured many others.
Earlier this year, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco said the South Asian country was witnessing “a significant increase” in number of violent incidents after more than 30 people died and 60 others were injured in clashes between police and protesters in the capital.
At the time, he called on all stakeholders to work together to create a conducive environment that would allow free, fair, credible, inclusive and non-violent elections to take place.
Earlier this year, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco said Bangladesh was witnessing “a significant increase” in number of violent incidents after more than 30 people died and 60 others were injured in clashes between police and protesters in the capital.
At the time, he called on all stakeholders to work together to create a conducive environment that would allow free, fair, credible, inclusive and non-violent elections to take place.
Earlier expressing concern over the political situation here, US Secretary of State John Kerry had requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to hold a constructive dialogue without wasting any more time to decide on an election-time government.
On 25 October opposition leader Khaleda Zia called a 60-hour hartal (shutdown) from 27 October, giving the government a two-day ultimatum to initiate a dialogue on a neutral election-time government from a huge anti-government rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Hasina called the opposition leader inviting her to Gono Bhaban to hold talks. Khaleda declined Hasina’s request to call off the hartal.
Source: The Daily Star
