United States’ ambassador to Bangladesh, Dan W Mozena, said he thinks that there is a way forward with respect to holding the next general elections in a free, fair and credible manner.
He also said he agreed with the views expressed by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and China’s ambassador to Dhaka, Li Jun, who had, earlier, called for dialogue between the major political parties, to find a way for holding free, fair and credible polls.
“America’s participation is to echo the sentiments of the [UN] secretary-general, in calling on the leaders of all the parties to have a constructive dialogue to find a way forward, because, there is a way forward,” he said on Saturday morning, while replying to questions regarding Ban’s phone calls to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia, on Friday.
Mozena added, “Bangladeshi people want to have the elections. They want elections that are free, fair and credible. So, I think the leaders of all the parties need to find a way, so that such elections are possible.”
The US ambassador was speaking to reporters, after attending the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on “United Nations Peacekeeping and South Asia: Trends and Prospects”, organised by Dhaka University’s (DU) international relations department, in collaboration with the American Centre, at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.
Dhaka University vice-chancellor, AAMS Arefin Siddique, was present as chief guest at the programme, attended, among others, by foreign secretary Shahidul Haque.
Mozena described the UN chief’s phone calls as a very positive development, saying that it signalled a direct engagement on part of the UN secretary-general, “reaching out personally to the leaders of the two major parties, reiterating a very strong and powerful message on the need for a dialogue and a need for free, fair and credible elections”.
“It was a very constructive and helpful development what the secretary-general did yesterday [Friday]. I’m very encouraged by that,” he said.
Asked about the remarks of the Chinese ambassador Li Jun on Wednesday, the US ambassador said, “He (the Chinese ambassador) speaks very clearly, very powerfully, and very constructively. So, he does not need the American ambassador to explain what he was saying.”
But, he said, “He (Jun) expressed views identical with my own. And that is, the need for these leaders of major political parties to have their lieutenants begin a constructive dialogue, to find a way forward. So, I agree fully with the sentiments expressed by the Chinese ambassador.”
In a press conference, the Chinese envoy called for a face-to-dialogue between the leaders of Awami League and BNP, to resolve the political impasse relating to the next elections and that he had already made efforts to organise such a dialogue between the two parties.
-With The Independent input
