Kerry helped parties thru’ writing, telephoning to find solution, he says
Reminding Bangladesh that the solution is within the country, US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena has said the United States strongly urges the two major political parties to engage in constructive dialogue to find an agreed way forward to hold free and fair elections that the Bangladeshi people find credible.
“Secretary Kerry (US Secretary of State John Kerry) has helped with this effort by writing to the leaders of both parties and by telephoning the Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) recently,” he said in a facebook chat on Sunday.
Responding to a question, Mozena said it is not a question of America or anyone else having a plan to break this political impasse. “Only Bangladeshis can resolve the impasse.”
Mozena confidently said, “Yes, there is a solution to the current political impasse – both parties must engage in meaningful dialogue to find a way forward to holding free, fair and credible elections.”
He said violence from any quarter is not democratic practice, is not acceptable and must stop immediately. “The government must provide the opposition political space to freely express its views, and the opposition must use such space responsibly and peacefully.”
The diplomat said once Bangladesh has charted a course forward to free, fair and credible elections, then America and Bangladesh’s many other friends can help Bangladesh realise that course of action.
“We call on all sides to eschew violence and protect the rights of Bangladesh’s ethnic and religious minorities,” said the US diplomat.
Responding to another question, Mozena said he believes that Bangladesh should be the world’s largest exporter of apparel and household textiles replacing China.
“For this to happen, Bangladesh must quickly resolve the ongoing political impasse and Bangladesh must move resolutely to bring all readymade garment factories up to international standards in terms of fire safety, factory structural soundness and workers’ rights to freely associate and organize,” he explained.
Mozena also said once Bangladesh has ensured that there will be no more Rana Plaza building collapses and Tazreen Fashions fires, and he believes the country will be well-positioned for great growth in the sector.
Appreciating Bangladeshi youths, Mozena said, “I’m so impressed by the young people of Bangladesh. Two weeks ago I led a delegation of Bangladeshi businessmen to Hong Kong to explore how to expand business relations between Hong Kong and the many American companies that are based in Hong Kong. The two stars of the delegation were its two youngest members, who were exceptionally bright and articulate.”
Source: UNBConnect
Following two observations mirror the sentiments of the international community (except India of course) – government and opposition do take note:
“The government must provide the opposition political space to freely express its views, and the opposition must use such space responsibly and peacefully”
“Once Bangladesh has charted a course forward to free, fair and credible elections, then America and Bangladesh’s many other friends can help Bangladesh realise that course of action”.