He’ll meet top leaders, CEC, civil society representatives
In an apparent last-ditch effort to resolve the political crisis in Bangladesh, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández Taranco arrives here on Friday evening to “encourage dialogue” for parliamentary elections billed for January 5.
His visit is aimed at encouraging dialogue and conditions conducive to parliamentary elections scheduled for January 5, said a statement issued by UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Neal Walker on Thursday.
During his stay here, the UN envoy will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader Khaleda Zia, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed and representatives from the government, civil society and the international community during his visit to help ensure free, fair and credible polls in Bangladesh.
Taranco will start his official tour on Saturday and will meet Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali at 10:30am at the latter’s office and the Prime Minister at 4pm at her official residence Ganobhaban on Saturday.
He is expected to meet the Chief Election Commissioner and the opposition chief on the same day.
Taranco will report back to the UN chief on the outcome of his Bangladesh visit ahead of the election, said an official source.
In November last week, Ban Ki-moon wrote to Bangladesh’s two top leaders -– Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia -– and encouraged them to reach a mutually agreed consensus through ‘constructive dialogue’ to hold a ‘non-violent’ election in Bangladesh with the participation of all parties.
Taranco will carry the message of the UN chief for the political leaderships in Bangladesh that the UN wants a credible election and his request for holding constructive and meaningful dialogue.
The UN envoy visited Bangladesh from May 10 to 13 at the request of Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon.
During his last visit to Dhaka, he met the Prime Minister, the BNP chairperson, the Speaker of Parliament, the Foreign Minister, the Chief Election Commissioner, leaders of major political parties, and the representatives of civil society and the media.
Taranco conveyed to all interlocutors a strong message from the Secretary-General about the urgent need for more meaningful and constructive political dialogue to create conducive conditions for the successful holding of the election.
He also briefed the Secretary-General on his return and shared the messages and views of those that he had met.
In his last visit, the UN envoy also stressed the need for an early solution to the issue of a polls-time government through dialogue to ensure a free, fair and peaceful national election reminding political parties that ‘time is running out’.
Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and urged them to hold talks for a peaceful resolution of the political crisis.
It seems diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing political crisis have gained momentum in the eleventh hour though it is not clear yet whether solutions are going to come from the international community or from the political parties of Bangladesh.
On December 3, US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal has said the solutions are not going to come from the international community as solutions are there within the people, institutions and parties of Bangladesh.
“The solutions are not going to come from the international community. The solutions are there within the people and the institutions and the parties of Bangladesh, and what needs to happen is for that dialogue that allows a compromise…,”she said.
Source: UNB Connect
We don’t really understand what the meeting of Mr. Taranco with the two warring ladies will bring forth keeping in view that all the previous efforts and urging of the international communities have fallen in deaf ears of the top boss of the ruling party. Though she said she did not want the chair of the PM; she wanted ‘peace’ for the people. But as her other words uttered previously went hollow, this ‘pronunciation’ also has proved to be a mockery with us common people. The PM has also proved that her type of democracy has a special ‘flavor’ far different from the real one practised in Great Britain, India, the US etc which her lieutenants so frequently make us hear. Mr. Taranco must have in the meantime realized that mild persuasion won’t work. The present ruling party needs a strong jolt to come to senses and unless and until that’s done the present intolerable situation is not going to end.