The United Kingdom has urged the Bangladesh government and the opposition political parties “to show flexibility” and hold a dialogue to create conditions congenial for impartial elections, keeping the country’s interests first.
The UK hoped that all sides would act with restraint and do everything possible “to discourage acts of violence,” British High Commissioner to Dhaka Robart W Gibson said in a statement on Sunday.
“We welcome the announcement of the Honorable Prime Minister and other indications from political leaders over the last few days that the door for dialogue is open,” he said.
The British envoy said the UK urged parties to seize the opportunity for holding a dialogue; negotiate in good faith; and show flexibility.
While the UK was aware of the ban on meetings and rallies in Dhaka, he hoped that the ban would not detract from efforts to achieve an agreement on an interim administration or preclude legitimate political activity in Parliament and through the media.
“It is not for the United Kingdom to dictate what shape or composition an interim administration should have,” he said.
The interim government should ensure the neutrality of the electoral process and that the people of Bangladesh were able to elect the government that they wanted, he added.
In a televised speech on Friday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested the main opposition to join a polls-time interim cabinet.
However, a day later, the government imposed ban on rallies, processions and human chains in the capital prompting the opposition to demonstrate in different districts on Sunday.