They hold urgent ‘coordination meeting’ on Bangladesh situation
Diplomats of the European Union (EU) in Dhaka on Monday did not attend the Victory Day programme in Savar citing a reason of their urgent ‘coordination meeting’ on Bangladesh’s current situation but joined the reception hosted by the President at Bangabhaban.
Though the EU diplomats ‘could not’ attend the Victory Day programme in the morning due to its urgent ‘coordination meeting’, the EU delegation attended the reception hosted by President Abdul Hamid.
However, it could not be confirmed from the EU side whether there was any EU representative to the Victory Day function.
Talking to UNB over phone, a source attached to the EU delegation said the EU envoys (from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK – and Head of the EU Delegation in Dhaka – William Hanna) could not attend the Victory Day programme in the morning due to the ‘coordination meeting’.
The ‘coordination meeting’ was held from 11am to 12:30pm where the EU diplomats reportedly prepared its report on which a decision to be taken whether or not the EU will be sending observers for Bangladesh’s general election billed for January 5, diplomatic sources said.
Another diplomatic source said the coordination meeting was originally scheduled to be held at 3pm but rescheduled it later.
A strong rumor was there in the air since morning that the EU delegation in an unprecedented move would skip the President’s reception.
Every year on the Victory Day, the President hosts a reception for diplomats, ministers, MPs, city elite and eminent citizens of the country at Bangabhaban, the presidential palace.
Meanwhile, the UNB correspondent at Bangabhaban said the EU delegation, led by William Hanna, entered the Bangabhaban at about 4:30pm.
Earlier on Sunday, the EU Ambassador in Dhaka William Hanna, in a note verbal, sent to the Foreign Ministry informed the government that the EU envoys would not be able to attend the Victory Day programme due to their coordination meeting, said the Foreign Ministry sources.
Attending such state programmes is not mandatory but a tradition followed over the years.
Source: UNB Connect