Ban Ki-moon calls Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, asks for more Bangladeshi troops
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and has asked for more troops to the UN peace-keeping mission.
The premier’s Information Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the UN envoy made the request over a telephone call Tuesday evening.
“Ban Ki-moon has asked for an additional battalion of Bangladesh Army for the UN mission,” he said. “The prime minister has given her approval.”
The move came just weeks ahead of the January 5 elections and after UN deputy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco visited Bangladesh.
Taranco mediated a dialogue between two major political parties, Awami League and BNP, which could not lead to a consensus ahead of the 10th national elections.
After Taranco left, ministers of the polls-time cabinet said that any dialogue with BNP will involve the next parliamentary polls, not that of January 5.
Meanwhile, it is almost certain that more than half of the 300 parliamentary seats will be won uncontested in view of BNP not participating in the polls.
Ban Ki-moon calls Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, asks for more Bangladeshi troops
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and has asked for more troops to the UN peace-keeping mission.
The premier’s Information Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the UN envoy made the request over a telephone call Tuesday evening.
“Ban Ki-moon has asked for an additional battalion of Bangladesh Army for the UN mission,” he said. “The prime minister has given her approval.”
The move came just weeks ahead of the January 5 elections and after UN deputy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco visited Bangladesh.
Taranco mediated a dialogue between two major political parties, Awami League and BNP, which could not lead to a consensus ahead of the 10th national elections.
After Taranco left, ministers of the polls-time cabinet said that any dialogue with BNP will involve the next parliamentary polls, not that of January 5.
Meanwhile, it is almost certain that more than half of the 300 parliamentary seats will be won uncontested in view of BNP not participating in the polls.
– See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2013/dec/24/ban-ki-moon-calls-pm-seeks-more-army#sthash.Vc6UeJOS.dpuf
Source: Dhaka Tribune
