British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over the continued confrontation instead of dialogue between the two major political parties — ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP — for holding free, fair and credible elections.
“I’m disappointed that we’ve seen continued confrontational action rather than constructive dialogue between the two main parties that could result in the outcome desired by most ordinary Bangladeshis: free, fair and credible elections in which all parties participate,” the British envoy said in a statement.
In response to a query, the US said the major parties must engage in constructive dialogue now more than ever to find a way forward to free, fair and credible elections as elections quickly approach.
“We call on all parties to eschew violence. Violence of any nature is not part of the democratic process and is not acceptable,” US Embassy Spokesperson Kelly McCarthy told UNB on Saturday.
She said there must be political space so all parties can express their views freely and peacefully. “This is an essential element of democracy.”
Events of the past days and hours underscore the urgency of finding a way forward to free, fair and credible elections, said the Spokesperson.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance on Saturday extended its 72-hour nationwide hartal, scheduled to begin at 6 am on Sunday, by 12 hours to 6pm Wednesday in protest against Friday night’s arrest of senior BNP leaders.
On Friday night, plainclothes police detained BNP standing committee members Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah from the city’s Karwanbazar area while BNP Chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo and Khaleda’s special assistant Shimul Biswas in front of her Gulshan residence.
Source: UNBConnect
