Hectic parleys by visiting UN assistant secretary general for political affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco resulted in a crucial meeting between Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir here on Tuesday.
Both the rivals also expressed their will to continue talks to resolve the on-going crisis over the poll-time government. “Today represented an important moment in the current conflict. At the invitation of the UN secretary general (Ban ki-Moon), representatives of both parties met and engaged in a dialogue. Both sides have agreed to continue their dialogue in a spirit of goodwill and to work constructively together to decrease tensions and build confidence,” the UN emissary declared in a statement at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on Tuesday afternoon.
“I want to take this opportunity to applaud the decision to sit down and seize this important opportunity. This shows political leadership, responsibility and courage,” he added.
“It is also an answer to the expectations of the people of Bangladesh,” added Taranco, who has decided to extend his stay in Bangladesh as there has been some positive developments. He was scheduled to leave Dhaka for New York on Tuesday night, wrapping up his four day visit.
Earlier, the Awami League general secretary and the BNP acting secretary general held a closed-door meeting at a UNDP official’s rented accommodation at Baridhara’s Dreamstar Duplex on Road Number 7 and house number 28.
The two leaders entered the house sometime after 1 pm. The meeting lasted for around two hours with two cars, including the one used by Taranco, leaving the venue after 3.10 pm. It was not immediately clear how many leaders participated in the meeting, which was planned on Monday night.
Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, information adviser to the Prime Minister, told The Independent: “I was not present in the meeting. Only AL and BNP secretaries attended the meeting.”
According to the UN office, the visiting envoy has extended his stay by one more day, deferring his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Taranco had held meetings with the PM, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Jatiya Party chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Jamaat-e-Bangladesh leaders and members of the civil society to resolve the on-going political impasse for holding free, fair and credible parliamentary polls.
The main opposition BNP has been observing a countrywide blockade programme since announcement of the election schedule for 10th parliament. Besides, BNP has also staged different movements to demand restoration of a non-partisan caretaker government for holding the national elections.
On December 3, Ershad had announced to boycott the national polls on January 5, saying that the present situation in the country was not conducive for election. He had also directed his party candidates to withdraw their nomination papers by December 13. The JP chairman also directed six party ministers and an adviser to resign from the present cabinet.
During a meeting with Taranco on December 7, Ershad cleared his position that the JP would not take part in the election sans the main opposition BNP.
Members of the civil society group had also demanded a peaceful solution for holding the polls after a meeting with the President on November 26.
-With The Independent input
