DHAKA: A UN envoy said yesterday a peaceful solution to election impasse in Bangladesh was possible despite boycotts by major parties and escalating violence, which has left 73 people dead since late October.
Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, the United Nations’ assistant secretary for political affairs, made the comments after three days of talks with the Bangladesh government, opposition parties and the election commission.
“I do believe that there is a possibility of finding a peaceful solution to this current deadlock if we have political will, if we have leadership, if we have an attitude of compromise, and most importantly if we are able to engage in peaceful dialogue,” he said.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its smaller Islamist allies are boycotting elections scheduled for January 5, saying they will not take part in any contest under PM Sheikh Hasina.
They want her to resign and make way for the polls under a neutral government -- demands that Hasina has rejected outright.
Local media said the UN special envoy has asked the authorities to defer the election in an effort to ensure participation of the opposition parties.
Fernandez-Taranco would meet the political leaders again later yesterday and today in a bid to broker a deal to resolve the deepening crisis.
Hasina’s plan to go ahead with the polls without the BNP was dealt a major blow last week when her key ally, Jatiya Party, the third largest political outfit led by ex-military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad, announced that it was also boycotting.
AFP
