Opposition BNP on Wednesday claimed that a UN official has conveyed it that the government is not willing to hold talks on non-party caretaker government.
While talking to a top BNP leader on Tuesday night, the UN official informed the government’s stance about the dialogue on the polls-time non-party government, BNP vice chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told UNB on Wednesday.
Mobin, however, declined to disclose the name and the position of the UN official and that of the BNP leader.
According to Mobin, the UN did not get any positive response from the government side to sit in talks with the opposition to overcome the political crisis over the polls-time government.
Earlier on August 23, amid the deepening political crisis in the country over the nature of polls-time administration, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon phoned Sheikh Hasina and her arch rival Khaleda Zia and urged them to sit in talks for reaching a consensus for holding free and fair polls.
The UN Secretary General told both the leaders that the global community wants to see a free and fair election in Bangladesh with the participation of all parties.
On Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry also voiced concern over the ongoing political standoff in Bangladesh, and urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to engage in a constructive dialogue without further delay.
BNP has been on a movement since the government scrapped the non-party caretaker government system through the 15th amendment to the constitution demanding its restoration.
As per the current constitution, the next general election must be held within October 28 to January 24 under the incumbent regime and the ruling party is firm on its stance to hold the election as per the charter.
Opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Sunday issued a fresh threat to enforce a non-stop hartal and rail-road blockade if the government does not concede to the 18-party’s demand for arranging the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
Addressing a public rally in Narsingdi, she also said if the government wants to sit for talks over the restoration of caretaker government, they will definitely respond to it.
Source: UNBConnect