The United Nations has stressed the need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh.
Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric made the statement at a regular briefing on Thursday.
He said the UN chief tasked Assistant Secretary Oscar Fernández Taranco to liaise with the government and opposition leaders in Bangladesh over the matter.
In response to a question on Bangladesh, the UN spokesman said: "Taranco, as part of his functions, is in regular contact with member states."
"In his meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal, Taranco discussed the situation in Bangladesh, expressing concern about the escalation of violence and stressing the need for peaceful de-escalation of the situation."
Then UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández Taranco came to Bangladesh before the January 5 election and held a series of talks with Awami League and BNP alliances.
Earlier last week, the United Nations said it would continue to be in touch with the leaders of the ruling Awami League and the BNP in order to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
So far, more than 60 people have died and scores have been injured in different parts of the country in violence during the non-stop blockade enforced by the BNP-led alliance.
Of those, a large number of arson attacks are being conducted on highways. Hundreds of vehicles, including those belonging to law-enforcers, were burnt and attacked.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance has been enforcing a non-stop nationwide blockade since January 5 in protest against the confinement of the party chief Khaleda Zia.
Khaleda Zia had been kept confined to her Gulshan party office since January 3 ahead of a party rally, marking “Democracy Killing Day.”
On January 12, the security was relaxed.
