The visiting European Union (EU) Election Exploratory Mission on Tuesday stressed the need for a dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh.
They also said the next general election should be transparent, inclusive, fair and credible as they want to see democracy to continue in the country.
“The European Union is trying to support democracy in this country…we feel that a political salutation to the problem is important … we’ve called both sides to engage in a dialogue,” EU Ambassador to Bangladesh William Hanna told journalists after a meeting between a BNP delegation and the EU delegation.
The nearly one-and-half-hour long meeting was held at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The five-member EU Election Exploratory Mission, led by Balthasar Benz of the European External Action Service, arrived in Dhaka on Saturday on a 17-day visit to discuss with authorities and stakeholders concerned to assess the pre-parliamentary election situation.
Hanna said they have talked to both the opposition and ruling parties, and tried to encourage them to engage in a dialogue.
He, however, said they are only listening to political parties and others, but they are not prescribing anything as they feel the political parties will be able to find a solution to the problem through talks.
The EU envoy said one side can offer a dialogue and the other side can participate in it. “This is the high time for dialogue.”
About the discussion with the BNP delegation, Hanna said they had a good a discussion with the opposition party that helped them assess the picture prevailing here and build a report which will be submitted to high-level that will determine whether the EU should observe the election in Bangladesh.
Mentioning the discussion with AL and others, he said all discussions were fine and positive and helping them understand ‘what the situation is and what the context is’.
BNP standing committee member MK Anwar said they tried to bring to the notice of the EU delegations the problems that stand in the way of holding a free and fair election.
“We’ve tried to explain to them under the present constitution, the PM will remain in her position and the MPs and ministers will also remain in their positions and then there’ll be an election… this can’t happen as it won’t ensure a level-playing field during the election,” Anwar said..
Anwar said the EU team has encouraged them for engage in a dialogue. “We’re eager to sit for a dialogue if it’s productive one and it involves the issues relating to the polls.”
He said, “They’ve encouraged us for dialogue, we’re ready for dialogue but they should also equally encourage the other side to bring them in the discussion table for find out solutions to the problems.”
Anwar said they are not rigid on the stance that the old model of the caretaker government should be resorted. But they want a non-political government during the election.
He also said they want to engage in dialogue to discuss the framework of the polls-time non-party government, its tenure, responsibly and the selection procedure of the advisers.
BNP standing committee member Moyeen Khan, vice chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, chairperson’s adviser Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury, Reaz Rahman and Sabihuddin were, among others, present at the meeting.
Source: UNBConnect
