European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh William Hanna on Thursday
urged opposition BNP not to boycott the upcoming general election and
engage in dialogue to break the political deadlock. “We encourage the opposition to engage in dialogue and not to mount pressure of
boycott (of election),” he said. Hanna came up with the remarks
after a meeting between opposition leader Khaleda Zia and eight EU
envoys at the BNP chief’s Gulshan office in the evening. He also
urged BNP and its partners to condemn political violence and refrain
from it before, during and after the national election. “We stressed
the need to avoid boycott of the election and disruption of public
life.” Giving a positive signal of sending EU election observers to
monitor Bangladesh’s next polls, the EU Ambassador said they stand
ready to deploy an election observation mission. “We aim to
facilitate transparent, inclusive, credible elections,” he said adding
that the next few weeks will be critical for Bangladesh. Hanna said
they will also meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later. Amid foreign
countries’ concern over the growing political violence in Bangladesh,
the envoys of the eight EU countries, including Sweden, Denmark,
France, the UK and Germany, met the BNP chief at 7pm and held nearly
an hour-long meeting. Mentioning that they oppose all political
violence, the EU Ambassador said they renewed their call for immediate
dialogue between the two major political parties in Bangladesh.
Voicing the EU countries’ deep concern at the growing confrontation
between the two parties, the EU envoys urged all concerned parties to
refrain from calling further hartal as it is jeopardising the
country’s growth and hurting the most vulnerable parts of its
population. Hanna said they are also concerned as there have been
new attacks on minorities. “We condemn all such attacks.” Briefing
reporters about the meeting, BNP vice chairman Shamsher Mobin
Chowdhury said the BNP chief told the EU diplomats that the county’s
people want to see a free, fair and credible election. She also said
that BNP does not support any violence and it is always in favour of
peace, Mobin said. Referring to the country’s business leaders’
proposal for initiating a dialogue at secretary general level of the
two parties, the opposition leader said they are ready to join the
talks if the ruling party finalises the date and time for it, the BNP
vice chairman added. Mobin said Khaleda also voiced her concern over
the recent attacks on Hindu community members in Pabna. Citing media
reports, the opposition leader told the EU envoys that those who
attacked the minority community staged a procession along with State
Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku. – UNB
