UN Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said the solution to the existing political deadlock centring the next parliamentary elections must be a homegrown one.
“I strongly believe that a solution to the current deadlock is still possible if there is political will, leadership and an attitude of compromise,” Fernandez-Taranco said at a crowded press conference at the Hotel Sonargaon yesterday.
“There are measures that would contribute immensely: a call by all sides to end the violence, the release of opposition political leaders, and a mutually satisfactory solution to the concerns regarding the election schedule,” he said.
The UN envoy left Dhaka last evening. He arrived on Friday and was scheduled to leave on Tuesday but prolonged his trip by another 24 hours.
Asked if he felt any assurance that the polls would be deferred, Fernandez-Taranco told reporters, without elaborating, that the issue had been discussed.
“All issues related to the current situation have been discussed,” he said.
He encouraged both the ruling Awami League and the main opposition BNP to continue their dialogue.
“I firmly believe there is ground for an agreement. Bangladeshi leaders must continue to come together,” he said, adding that compromise in the dialogue would be decisive in finding a solution.
He said he was successful in achieving what he had come for.
The UN envoy arrived at a time when the possibility of a dialogue between the two major parties was slim, but when he was leaving two meetings had already taken place between the leaders of the two parties. They also agreed to hold a third meeting.
When asked if there was any agreement on holding the election with Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in power, he declined to make any comment.
Fernandez-Taranco conveyed deep concerns towards the rising violence in Bangladesh.
“I discussed the violence issues with all stakeholders,” he said.
Asked why his scheduled meeting with the PM was cancelled, he said it had been a very hectic day and there had been some scheduling conflicts.
In reply to questions on curtailing the PM’s power during the election period and an election managed by the UN, he said: “I am not here to go into details. The parties raised many issues and all the issues are related to the current situation.” He said he found the parties had the goodwill to reach a solution.
“If there was a lack of goodwill, we would not see meetings one after another so quickly. There has been an agreement on a third meeting. This is an important accomplishment.”
During his stay in Bangladesh, Fernandez-Taranco had a series of meetings with the PM, BNP chief Khaleda Zia, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, leaders of both the parties, ambassadors of various countries and members of the civil society.
In his meeting with the prime minister on Saturday, he inquired if there was a scope to shift the date for the 10th general election, apparently to ensure the BNP’s participation.
Later in the afternoon, he had meetings with AL delegation at Hotel Sonargaon and then with Khaleda Zia in the evening. He met Khaleda again on Monday.
The AL and the BNP have been engaged in conflicts over the arrangement of the polls-time government while the Election Commission declared January 5 as the polls date.
The BNP and its alliance, and Jatiya Party boycotted the election while the Awami League and its alliance had already submitted nomination papers for the elections.