AL, BNP stick to stances
The much-hyped Taranco mission ended inconclusively on Wednesday as both the ruling and the opposition parties remained firm on their respective stances over the poll-time government format, the apple of discord of the current impasse. But according to many, the UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco has at least been able to engage both the sides in the discussion table and has got assurances that they would continue talks to find ways and means to resolve the crisis.
The main opposition BNP publicly said that there was no meaningful progress in the discussions between the two parties held at the initiative of Taranco and vowed to continue their movement to press home its demand.
AL leaders after a meeting of the 14-party alliance also made it clear that they would not accept anybody other their party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the head of the poll-time government.
And all these coincided with the cancellation of Taranco’s scheduled meeting with the prime minister.
Commenting on Taranco’s mission, Minister for Information Hasanul Haque Inu also said the UN assistant secretary general was successful in his endeavour to arrange meetings between the leaders of the ruling and the opposition parties though both the sides have remained firm on their own positions.
Taranco, however, was optimistic at his wrap-up press conference on Wednesday evening prior to his departure saying a solution to the stalemate regarding the poll-time governance is still possible subject to political will, leadership and compromising attitude.
Mentioning the two meetings between Awami League and BNP leaders on Tuesday and Wednesday, he also said that measures leading to end of violence, release of opposition leaders and satisfactory solution concerning election schedule could contribute ‘immensely’ to finding a way forward.
“The UN stands for free, fair, inclusive and non-violent elections. It is clear that the Bangladeshi people want and deserve this. The credibility of the election will ultimately rest with the people of this country,” Taranco told a crowded press conference at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel before leaving for New York wrapping up his five-day visit.
“I strongly believe that a solution to the current deadlock is still possible if there is political will, leadership and an attitude of compromise,” he said.
“Yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday) at the invitation of the UN Secretary-General, senior representatives from the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party met and engaged in dialogue. I commend both sides for seizing this important opportunity; it is a first answer to the expectations of the people,” he said.
Asked if he had achieved what he came to achieve, he replied, “I think, I have,” In this regard, he mentioned that at the time of his arrival there had been two important issues — lack of dialogue and rising violence and said that his efforts had been how to have dialogue and on reducing the tension and create a conducive environment.
“Without any dialogue it is very difficult to have an agreement,” he added.
“There has been an agreement on a third meeting. This is an important accomplishment. In this dialogue compromise would be decisive in finding a solution,” he added.
Taranco also said, “At this moment the world is remembering Nelson Mandela’s legacy. Please allow me to quote his words from the visit he made to Bangladesh in March 1997: “a nation united in pursuit of shared goals can overcome the most difficult problems”.
“I firmly believe there is ground for an agreement. Bangladeshi leaders must continue to come together. I encouraged both sides to continue their dialogue in the spirit of good will and compromise. Bangladeshis expect them to work together constructively to decrease tensions and to find mutually agreeable solutions for free, fair, inclusive and non-violent elections,” he said.
On his return to New York, Taranco would brief the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the visit and share with him the messages and views of people he had met.
Meanwhile, when contacted Prime Minister’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco was cancelled due to their preoccupation with other ‘engagements’.
He said the meeting between the two scheduled on Tuesday was shifted on Wednesday at the request of Taranco.
“The meeting has finally been cancelled as the prime minister has a very busy schedule and also Taranco passed a hectic day having parleys with leaders of both the ruling and the opposition parties. They could not provide any further schedule for their meeting as the UN assistant secretary general was scheduled to leave Dhaka later in the night,” Chowdhury added.
-With The Independent input
