BNP claimed that United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez Taranco on Tuesday evening telephoned BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, welcoming BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s proposal on polls-time government.
Maruf Kamal Khan, press secretary to the BNP chief, told the Dhaka Tribune the pair had talked for around half an hour: “He [Taranco] said Khaleda’s speech on minority issue, militancy, good governance and relationship with neighbours had been very much inspiring.”
Taranco also reportedly told Fakhrul that he would phone Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.
A source close to Syed Ashraf said the Awami Leagye general secretary received a telephone call from Taranco on Tuesday evening. However, the detail was not available.
Maruf Kamal Khan claimed that Taranco told Fakhrul the UN hoped that a participatory, free, fair and credible election would take place in Bangladesh and all the obstacles for holding such elections would be removed through talks.
Khan also said Fakhrul made the party stance clear, saying that they were very much eager to talk for a free, fair and credible election.
Taranco held a series of meetings on May 14 with various political parties including the ruling Awami League and the BNP for creating an atmosphere for dialogue.