United Nations assistant secretary general for political affairs Oscar Fernandez Taranco will arrive at the capital on Friday night on a four-day visit to the country. The visit is seen by many as one of the last-ditch international efforts to help resolve the current political impasse in Bangladesh. Taranco will lead a five-member delegation comprising a senior UN mediator, two officials of the political affairs’ department and a director of the election assistance division.This will be the senior UN official’s third visit to Bangladesh in a year. He visited Dhaka in December 2012 and May this year.
“The UN assistant secretary general for political affairs, Oscar Fernández Taranco, will be in Bangladesh from 7-10 December to encourage dialogue between the major political parties and to make conditions conducive for the parliamentary election scheduled for January 5, 2014,” UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, Neal Walker, said in a statement on Thursday.
“He will meet government representatives, opposition members and Parliament members, as well as civil society and international community representatives,” he said, adding, “This visit is a follow-up to his mission to Bangladesh in May this year.”
Opinions differ about the success of Taranco’s visit to Bangladesh at a crucial time when the country is heading towards election without the participation of the major opposition party.
“The visit of Taranco will not bring any result. The Awami League and BNP are now on two different trains with different destinations. And, we already have an election date,” said a highly placed source inside the ruling party. When contacted, BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdury said, “Let him come first. Then we will determine whether his visit would be successful or not. It will not be appropriate to say anything beforehand.”
Experts and diplomats, however, expressed cautious optimism about the success of the UN official’s visit.
“I fervently hope that Taranco would be able to help find a solution to the problem,” said former Bangladesh ambassador to the United States Humayun Kabir.
He, however, said that given the limited space left for manoeuvring by the two major political parties, it would be difficult for Taranco to find a solution to the problem.
“I am hopeful of a peaceful solution. This kind of added pressure from the UN may help the two major political parties to understand the gravity of the situation,” said Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of international relations in Dhaka University.
He also said that the UN assistant secretary general would be able to see the ground realities to gather a better understanding of the consequences of one-sided elections. “Breaking ice is the only way forward. Things will go out of control if the unstable situation continues,” he added.
According to a senior foreign ministry official, Taranco, during his meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia, will mainly discuss the process to ensure credible, non-violent and inclusive elections.
The official also said that Taranco would carry letters from the UN secretary general for the Prime Minister and the opposition leader. The same letters were earlier given to Hasina and Khaleda.
Another foreign ministry official said that the UN did not have any authority to impose any decision on any of its member states. “If it has to impose anything, it has to be approved by the United Nations General Assembly,” he added.
However, a senior diplomat said that the UN has many resources in its disposal to put pressure on its member states. Development partners have also welcomed the upcoming visit of Taranco.
“We welcome the UN assistant secretary’s visit to Bangladesh,” said Kelly McCarthy, spokesperson of the US embassy in Dhaka, told The Independent.
On November 28, German ambassador to Dhaka Albrecht Conze had described the arrival of Taranco as a very encouraging event. “The arrival came at the last moment. But, it may be the right moment,” he said, expressing optimism that some major progress could be achieved during the visit.Taranco will arrive here around 7.30pm on Friday by an Emirates flight.
On Saturday, the UN official will meet the Prime Minister, opposition leader, foreign minister, foreign secretary and the chief election commissioner.
During his tour, Taranco will meet Hasina, Khaleda, AL?general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and BNP?acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir twice.
While in Dhaka, the UN official will also hold meetings with leaders of some political parties, diplomatic community and the civil society. He will hold a press conference on December 10, before departing Dhaka at night.
-With The Independent input
