UN chief calls B’desh PM to discuss crisis over poll reforms
24 Aug 2013 10:59 PM GMT
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said she seeks a peaceful negotiated settlement of a political crisis over electoral reforms, even as UN chief Ban-Ki-moon called her to discuss the current impasse over the issue.
‘Our prime minister assured the UN Secretary General that her government believes in peaceful settlement of the dispute through negotiations (with the opposition) to continue the democratic process as they talked for around 30 minutes,’ the premier's press adviser Iqbal Sobha Chowdhury told PTI.
Hasina told Ban that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by her arch-rival Khaleda Zia, was welcome to float their proposal for an amended electoral system during the upcoming parliament session next month.
‘She said her government believes in transition of power through a peaceful and credible election,’ Chowdhury said.
Election is due in the country in January next year.
Hasina expressed confidence that the next elections will be held in due time and people will be able to cast their votes freely.
The conversation came five days after Hasina said she would not budge an inch on opposition demand of holding the next elections under a non-party caretaker administration.
‘I believe in constitution and the election will be in line with the Constitution. I won't budge an inch,’ she said on Sunday at her official residence.
The premier's comment plunged Bangladesh's politics into a deeper impasse as
Zia responded the very next day, saying her party ‘will never accept any election under Hasina's government’and the government must restore the now scraped caretaker system through a
constitutional amendment.
‘Our prime minister assured the UN Secretary General that her government believes in peaceful settlement of the dispute through negotiations (with the opposition) to continue the democratic process as they talked for around 30 minutes,’ the premier's press adviser Iqbal Sobha Chowdhury told PTI.
Hasina told Ban that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by her arch-rival Khaleda Zia, was welcome to float their proposal for an amended electoral system during the upcoming parliament session next month.
‘She said her government believes in transition of power through a peaceful and credible election,’ Chowdhury said.
Election is due in the country in January next year.
Hasina expressed confidence that the next elections will be held in due time and people will be able to cast their votes freely.
The conversation came five days after Hasina said she would not budge an inch on opposition demand of holding the next elections under a non-party caretaker administration.
‘I believe in constitution and the election will be in line with the Constitution. I won't budge an inch,’ she said on Sunday at her official residence.
The premier's comment plunged Bangladesh's politics into a deeper impasse as
Zia responded the very next day, saying her party ‘will never accept any election under Hasina's government’and the government must restore the now scraped caretaker system through a
constitutional amendment.
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