Dhaka – A delegation of civil society members, led by Dr Kamal
Hossain, at a meeting with visiting UN Assistant Secretary-General for
Political Affairs Oscar Fernández Taranco on Sunday said the running
train of a one-sided election needs to be stopped.
“Nobody wants a one-sided election…what’s happening (violence,
confrontation) now is unexpected. It’s causing huge losses. We want to
see the ongoing violence, confrontation to be stopped…we told them
that the train of holding a one-sided election needs to be stopped,”
Dr Kamal told reporters emerging from the meeting.
The noted jurist also said they conveyed the UN envoy that there is no
legal barrier to deferring the election schedule for the 10th
parliamentary polls.
The nearly one-and-a-half-hour meeting that began around 2:30pm was
held at a city hotel.
The other members of the delegation are Sujan Secretary Dr Badiul Alam
Majumder, former caretaker government adviser Prof Jamilur Reza
Chowdhury and eminent lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik.
Dr Kamal said they also conveyed the UN team that they all want a
free, fair and credible election with the participation of all
parties. “We need a peaceful election. We must have that patience to
have a peaceful election…They (UN) also want a peaceful and acceptable
election with the participation of all parties in Bangladesh.”
Mentioning that violence will not help find a solution, the veteran
politician said they think a compromise can yield a positive outcome.
“As per the law, I think it’s possible to defer the election schedule.
I conveyed it to them (UN team),” he further said.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on November 25
announced the schedule for the general election fixing the voting date
for January 5 amid BNP’s boycott threat.
Dr Kamal said, “We are working to help political parties to reach a
consensus…we’ll continue to work for helping them reach a consensus.”
Badiul Alam Majumdar said the election schedule can be deferred if
they (political parties) can reach a consensus. The EC has already
mentioned it twice. “There’s no alternative to consensus…the civil
society didn’t give any proposal how the political parties can reach
to that consensus.”
Shahdeen Malik said they want an election with the participation of
all and it must be peaceful. “Nobody wants a one-sided election.
People want election like 2008 in which 87 percent votes had been
cast. We want it…the UN and the entire world want a peaceful and
participatory election.”
Replaying to a question whether the UN envoy told them about any
formula for resolving the political crisis, he said the UN team did
not come up with any formula from New York.
Meanwhile, Taranco’s meeting with a Jamaat delegation schedule to be
held at 4:30 pm has been postponed and it is likely to be held on
Monday.
Taranco arrived here on Friday evening amid the country’s murky
political situation that has cast a shadow on its January-5 general
election.
His visit is aimed at encouraging ‘dialogue and conditions’ conducive
to parliamentary elections scheduled for January 5, said a statement
issued by UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Neal Walker.
The UN envoy had meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and
Opposition leader Khaleda Zia Saturday evening. – UNB
