Expressing concern over violence and loss of lives, the United Nations (UN) has said its Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernández-Taranco has been tasked to liaise with the government of Bangladesh to ensure stability in the country, reports United News of Bangladesh.
‘Oscar Fernández-Taranco has been tasked by the Secretary General to liaise with the government and he’s doing just that,’ said Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric at a regular briefing on Wednesday.
He made the remark when a Bangladeshi journalist involved in BNP politics Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari wanted to know whether the UN should do more instead of expressing concern to ‘restore democracy’ in Bangladesh and hold free and fair and credible elections.
Dujarric said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is ‘personally committed’ to the stability and positive development of Bangladesh. ‘Bangladesh, as you know, is a critical partner of the United Nations in many areas,’ said the Spokesperson.
He said they are very much concerned about the violence and the loss of lives that’s occurred in Bangladesh since the beginning of last year. ‘And obviously, I think, as we’ve said here a number of times.’
Another questioner said Taranco is meeting this (Wednesday) afternoon with Nisha Biswal, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. ‘Is it fair to assume that that’s what that meeting is about? And how would you characterize it?
In response, the spokesperson said, ‘I think it’s not fair to assume anything. I’ll now see if I can actually get you some facts, as opposed to assumptions.’
Meanwhile, another source said Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin also met Biswal on the same day. However, the outcome of the meeting is yet to know.
Before the January-5 elections, then UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández Taranco came to Bangladesh and held a series of talks with Awami League and BNP alliances.
However, he left the country leaving a note for Bangladeshi leaderships that the solution has to be a homegrown one.
‘I firmly believe there’s a ground for an agreement… Bangladesh leaders must continue to come together. I encouraged both sides to continue the dialogue in the spirit of goodwill and compromise,’ he told reporters after wrapping up his six-day hectic tour at that time.
Source: New Age
