The two top political parties in Bangladesh have agreed to compromise from their part, a foreign envoy in Dhaka said on Thursday.
United Kingdom’s Senior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Sayeeda Hussain Warsi made the statement in a press conference held in Dhaka.
“I am assured by both the government and the opposition that there will be further meeting taking place tomorrow (Friday) that provides an opportunity possibly one of the last opportunities to try and reach agreement,” she said who arrived in Dhaka for one day.
Hopeful Warsi said: “What I heard from both sides was not so much the things that they would compromise on but they are prepared to compromise. So from that I can take hope.”
Warsi, born in March 1971, enjoyed warm and cordial relationship with both Hasina and Khaleda and had a very incredibly open conversation with them.
“They both spoke about wanting to compromise. Whether or not there will be a compromise will be determined in the meeting, I think tomorrow (Friday),” she said. About the war crimes trial, she said the UK has a very clear position on not using death penalty.
“We oppose it in every country, we oppose it in all circumstances in the European Union,” she said.
She, however, said: “We believe that people who commit war crimes should face justice that there cannot be a culture of impunity for those who commit those horrendous crimes.”
Awami League and BNP were in disparity over how the upcoming general elections will take place. BNP and its allies, and Jatiya Party refused to take part in polls under Sheikh Hasina.
Under such circumstances United Nations’ Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco arrived and got the two parties together to start a dialogue.
After a five-day hectic efforts he did not state whether he was successful on “his mission,” but said he began a process which the two parties now must continue. In course of the events, Baroness Warsi came to Dhaka and had meetings with the two top leaders of Bangladesh.
Warsi stressed in all her meetings on the importance of free, fair, transparent, and violence free elections.
When asked if Britain would accept the polls if BNP does not take part, she said: “I think it’s very early for us to make a judgment.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a meeting with Baroness Sayeeda Warsi yesterday reiterated that the next elections would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner as per the constitution, reports BSS. She said all the polls held in different tiers during the last five years of the present government were free, fair and neutral and many opposition candidates won those elections.
“The next elections would also be held in such a manner as per the constitution,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The prime minister expressed this view when visiting Senior Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom Sayeeda Warsi, MP, called on her at her office here this morning.
After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters.
During the meeting, they discussed issues relating to bilateral interests.
The prime minister expressed happiness at the historic and traditional links and partnership that exist between Bangladesh and the UK.
She hoped that the bilateral relations between the two countries would be further strengthened in the years to come.
Sheikh Hasina recalled the invaluable support extended by the British people and the government of Prime Minister Edward Heath during the War of Liberation in 1971.
In another meeting with BNP Chief Khaleda Zia visiting UK Senior Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said an inclusive election is necessary in Bangladesh for its stability.
“The United Kingdom expects that all political parties will participate in the next general election for its stability,” Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, vice chairman of the BNP, told journalists quoting Warsi.
She held an hour-long meeting with the BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence.
The BNP leader quoting Warsi said the UK hoped that political parties in Bangladesh can reach an understanding over holding a free, fair and acceptable election with the participation of all.
Mobin said Warsi, on behalf of the United Kingdom government, expressed deep concern over the uncertainty of the upcoming general election.
Mobin also said various issues relating to the mutual interests of Bangladesh and the United Kingdom were discussed in the meeting.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Chairperson’s Advisers Reaz Rahman, Sabihuddin Ahmed and British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson were present in the meeting. Warsi also yesterday met Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.
However, she refrained from making any comment after an hour-long meeting. When journalists approached her she said: “No comment.”
