The visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that if the political leaders of the country want, the UN is ready to provide technical and logistic supports to hold Bangladesh’s next general election in a credible and transparent manner.
Responding to a question whether the UN will mediate between the government and the opposition over the current political impasse centring scrapping of the caretaker system, Ban Tuesday said, differences of opinion of political parties and other stakeholders should be resolved harmoniously and peacefully through dialogue. “Whatever the system, elections must be participatory, credible and transparent” he said while addressing a press conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city.
“Political leaders must look beyond party lines for the future of Bangladesh,” he added.
Asked to comment on the opposition’s decision not to join elections without caretaker government, the UN chief said “this is your system. This is your choice.”
But he declined to comment on the caretaker system, saying it is an internal affair of Bangladesh and as the UN secretary general he cannot interfere in internal politics of the country.
He said during his talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia he told them that all difference of opinions among them should be resolved through dialogue.
He recalled his Dhaka visit during the past army-backed interim government in 2008 saying at that time he told the then caretaker government and military leaders that they must ensure fair and credible elections for democratic transition in the country.
“Since 2008 Bangladesh has achieved great progress for democracy. However, there is much to be done (and) the next elections should be held in a credible manner,” he said.
He also urged both the government and opposition ‘to do more’ to make the parliament properly functional.
He also said Bangladesh is also a nation in democratic transition and has made great strides when the elections of 2008 were conducted peacefully. In this connection, Ban Ki-moon said the UN was proud to have helped Bangladesh create a digitised voter list – an important step towards transparency. “It’s essential that future ballots be carried out in a manner that is free, fair, credible and fully transparent.”
The UN secretary general said the vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change makes prevention especially urgent. “I commend Bangladesh for organizing today’s Climate Vulnerable Forum. You’re showing not only resilience but foresight. You’re taking your know-how in disaster risk reduction and applying it to climate adaptation.”
About women empowerment and engaging youths in development activities, he said, “There’ll be no sustainable development without the world’s women and young people. Empowering them is our fourth great imperative. Here, too, Bangladesh is a leader.” Ban Ki-moon praised Bangladesh’s progress in the health sector particularly in reducing maternal and child mortality as well as in women empowerment, contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations and carbon neutral policy.
He said Bangladesh has become a model for other countries of the world. “Bangladesh is in the frontline of development challenges and also in the frontline of development solutions.”
UN resident coordinator Neil Walker was present at the press conference.
Appreciating the role of Bangladesh for contribution to peacekeeping force, Ban Ki Moon said, Bangladesh has 10,600 personnel in the peacekeeping force and over 100 Bangladeshis have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“General Abdul Hafeez is the top commander in West Sahara while Ms Amerah Haq is the UN special envoy to East Timor I visited East Timor and they told me that they wanted more peacekeepers from Bangladesh, and I told them that I would look into the issue” he added.
The UN Chief said, Bangladesh was not only in the frontline of many challenges but also the frontline model.
“Bangladesh provides maximum members in the peacekeeping force, and it also reduces maternal mortality and enhances women’s empowerment drastically. In my visit, I talked about sustainable development and Bangladesh can offer its formula of success to the world,” he said.
About Syria, he said, “Syrian president Assad should immediately stop killing his own people. This is a great concern not only for me but also for the whole world”.
Commenting on Libya, he said that he had visited the country last week and the current leadership was working to make things straight in the country. UNSC had taken decision against the Libyan regime as people were killed by the state, he added.
-With The Independent input
