Three top foreign diplomats have welcomed the speeches of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition chief Khaleda Zia as they feel it will open doors for engaging in constructive dialogues.
After Khaleda Zia’s afternoon speech on Monday, the high commissions of Britain and Canada in Dhaka issued separate statements, while US Ambassador Dan Mozena spoke with the press after meeting with the opposition chief in the evening.
The diplomats also hailed Khaleda Zia’s remarks about her commitment to fight international terrorism, promoting regional cooperation and renouncing violence.
They also appreciated her pledge to move away from the culture of blame-game politics and focus on the challenges facing Bangladesh.
Mozena said a number of exciting things had happened over the last couple of days. “I hope that the lieutenants of the two parties, the major two parties, will sieze this opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue to find a way forward, an agreed way forward to hold free and fair and credible election.”
“That’s my hope. So I am feeling optimistic that is what will happen,” he said.
In reply to a query about his meeting with the opposition chief, the US Envoy said there was no discussion about what might happen if the parties fail to reach agreement.
“We discussed prospects for dialogue and we discussed the prospects for finding a way forward to holding a free, fair and credible election.”
Mozena said Zia had shared some of her visions with him. “The honourable leader of the opposition shared some of her views about what a possible government [would be like], if she were elected,” he said.
About the ban on demonstrations in the capital, he said peaceful rallies were an important part of the democratic process.
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Dhaka Robert W Gibson in a statement said the suggestions made in Zia’s speech would be considered by the government.
“Meaningful dialogue will quickly begin which would offer the people of Bangladesh more certainty over the election process and lead to elections that are transparent, inclusive and credible,” the British envoy hoped.
He also hoped that all sides would approach the dialogue in a spirit of compromise and trust, and that while the dialogue was continuing, they would refrain from any disruptive acts of violence or harassment.
The Canadian High Commission in its statement welcomed the proposals by the government and by the opposition.
It urged the parties to use this opportunity to engage in negotiations in good faith so that transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful elections could be ensured.
“Good faith political dialogue will help create an environment free of political unrest and violence. We continue to call on all parties to respect the rights to freedom of expression and of assembly and urge everyone to exercise these rights in a peaceful and democratic manner eschewing violence,” the statement read.
