Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday had talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and urged the opposition to join the next parliament session and place its proposal over the election-time government. “We’ll welcome any proposal from them (Opposition) in the next parliament session,” she told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon when he phoned her.
Ban Ki-moon made the phone call to the Prime Minister in the morning and had discussions on various issues for a long time, PM’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury told UNB over telephone.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also phoned opposition leader Khaleda Zia and discussed various issues, including the next general election. Ban Ki-moon made the phone call to the opposition leader around 6:45pm and talked for over half-an hour, Khaleda Zia’s Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas told UNB.
He said the UN chief discussed the overall political situation of the country with the opposition leader.
PM’s Media Adviser said the Prime Minister informed the UN Secretary General that the government always gives emphasis on dialogues or discussions for resolving any issue.
“That’s why we offer them (Opposition) to engage in a dialogue, but they threw a 48-hour ultimatum instead. They tried to topple the elected government. Later, they destroyed the country’s peace and political stability by resorting to terrorism, anarchy and sabotage,” she told Ban Ki-moon. Hasina expressed her hope that the next general election will be held in due time and people will be able to cast their votes freely.
Talking about opposition’s attitude not to solve any issue through dialogue, Hasina said the opposition had brought an adjournment motion about the polls-time government in parliament and the treasury bench agreed to discuss the issue in the House as it believes in solving any political issue through discussion, dialogue and in a peaceful environment.
“But the opposition withdrew its adjournment motion within three hours as it was reluctant to solve the problem,” she said. The Prime Minister said the 15th amendment to the constitution was brought following the verdict of the country’s apex court.
She said the parliamentary special committee which was tasked to bring an amendment to the constitution brought the amendment after a long discussion with all stakeholders, including the civil society and media representatives. “Apart from lawmakers, a parliamentary special body discussed the issue with all. No such long discussion was ever held in Bangladesh’s parliamentary history,” the premier said.
The PM’s media advisor said the UN secretary general lauded Bangladesh’s tremendous successes in the fields of democracy, economic growth and millennium development goals under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Bangladesh has been acclaimed internationally for its firm stance against terrorism, militancy and fundamentalism,” the UN Secretary General said, adding the world needs a leader like Sheikh Hasina.
Ban Ki-moon expressed the hope that Bangladesh’s advancement in democracy and economy would continue. During the 30-minute conversation that started at 11.30 am, the UN Secretary General invited the Prime Minister to attend the next UN General Assembly session slated for the next month. Hasina accepted the invitation and said her participation in the UNGA would depend on the situation as Parliament will be in session at that time.
The Prime Minister also invited the UN Secretary General to visit Bangladesh at his convenient time. Ban Ki-moon expressed sympathy for Sheikh Hasina for the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members in this month in 1975. -UNB
