Amid the opposition’s threat to foil the January-5 elections, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Monday briefed the diplomats of South and
South East Asian countries and reaffirmed the government’s strong resolve to ‘thwart any terror attempts’ against ‘peaceful conduct’ of
the forthcoming general election. The briefing for the diplomats came at a time when the United States, the European Union (EU) and the
Commonwealth have announced not to send observers for the national election in Bangladesh questioning its credibility. Terming the
present political scenario ‘critical’, the Foreign Minister said any attempt of terrorism by the ‘enemy of the State’ in the name of
blockades and hartals against peaceful conduct of the polls and the war crimes tribunals, challenging the ‘very statehood of Bangladesh’
and crippling the country’s economy and communication system will be prevented. “The all-party election-time government, led by Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, is providing all-out support to the Election Commission towards creating conducive environment for holding the 10th
Parliamentary elections in a free, fair, credible and peaceful manner,” he said. PM’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi
and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque apart from Ambassadors and diplomatic Heads of Missions in Bangladesh from South and South East
Asian countries were also present during the briefing held at state guesthouse Padma in the afternoon. However, the media was not informed
beforehand about the briefing. The Foreign Minister briefed the envoys about the various security measures undertaken by the
election-time government ‘during these critical days preceding’ the elections under close directives of the Election Commission to prevent
‘BNP-Jammat terrorist attacks’ on the lives and property of the common people, especially the minorities, as well on State institutions.
Mahmood Ali assured all the regional ambassadors that the polls-time government would leave no stone unturned to heighten and ensure the
full safety and security of the diplomatic missions in Bangladesh as well as foreign nationals, including students and expatriate workers,
from their countries living in Bangladesh during these critical period preceding the elections. The Saarc and Asean ambassadors thanked the
polls-time government and expressed their satisfaction for the additional security measures provided for the diplomatic areas in
Gulshan and Baridhara areas. They assured that with the high level of support and protection provided by the government they feel safer
and secure in moving around Dhaka even during these days of blockades and hartals. Earlier, in the day, the United States in a statement
said they will not deploy observers for the January-5 national election and expressed its disappointment saying the major political
parties have not yet reached a consensus to have credible elections since more than half of the parliamentary seats are uncontested for
the January 5 polls. – UNB
