Biswal prescribes urgent dialogue

US Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswal has urged the two major political parties to engage in a dialogue immediately to resolve the ongoing crisis over the arrangement of holding general elections. “The announcement of interim cabinet simply underscores the urgency for a dialogue to take place immediately to determine the way forward for peaceful, free, fair and credible election to take place,” she said in reply to a question at a press conference at the American Club on Monday. Nisha arrived in the city on Saturday on a crucial three-day trip before being ceremonially sworn-in as the US assistant secretary. “This is a very very critical time and frankly, that’s why I made it such a priority to get here even before I had been able to get my ceremonial swearing in done.” During the visit, she met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaldea Zia, Nobel Laureat Dr Muhammad Yunus, ministers and members of the civil society. She flew back to Washington last night and would have her swearing-in on Thursday. “I have called upon the leaders of both the major political parties to empower their lieutenants. So that they can undertake a constructive dialogue to find a way forward to hold a free, fair and credible election - credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people,” said Biswal, responsible for South and Central Asian Affairs of the USA. “We are hopeful that such a dialogue can and will take place.” Whether an election without the participation of the main opposition party would be acceptable, the US official shot a counter question: “Will it be acceptable to Bangladeshi people? “If it is acceptable to Bangladeshi people [then] it would be acceptable to the international community [as well],” she said. “I have reason to have hope. We are pushing for a dialogue that allows the major political parties to come together around a process. That’s where I want us to focus our efforts and our attention.” Biswal said: “I have made clear of America’s strong conviction that violence of any kind by any of the participants in the political process is not part of the democratic process and it cannot be tolerated and must stop immediately.” Asked about reported US-India divergent views over Bangladesh, she said: “I am not aware of any difference.” She made it clear that Washington was not going to influence the political process. “We are not invested in any particular outcome but we strongly support the democratic process that leads to peaceful, free, fair and credible election.” Nisha admitted that Washington had discussed Bangladesh with New Delhi along with other members of the international community. “We certainly discussed with them a range of bilateral issues but we also discussed with them our desire, our support and our conviction on democratic process and our interest in supporting that democratic process.” Fundamentally, Washington would like to see peaceful, free, fair and credible election and it would work with the United Nations and the international community for that to take place, she said.