UN chief writes to Hasina, Khaleda

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has recently sent letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, saying that UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco is acting on current political impasse of Bangladesh on behalf of the secretary general.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq informed The Daily Star via email received today when the daily asked him whether the UN secretary general wrote to Hasina, also chief of the ruling Awami League, and BNP chief Khaleda urging them for sitting in a dialogue to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

Talking to reporters at the secretariat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam today admitted about the UN chief's letters to Hasina but he did not make it clear whether the UN secretary general called upon her to sit in a dialogue with Khaleda to resolve the current political crisis.

"The letter was written about two weeks ago but we got it two days back", he said adding that a separate letter was also written to Khaleda but he does not know about the content of the letter.

Asked whether the government will reply to the UN chief's letter, the state minister said, "We are taking preparation in this regard".

Shahriar also reiterated the government's stance on talks with BNP leaders saying that, "There will be no dialogue with killers."

Asked whether the UN chief told anything about the dialogue, the state minister avoided a direct reply and said many issues are mentioned in the letter.

The UN chief has requested the prime minister to take necessary steps to restrain the ongoing violence, he said.

Asked whether Taranco is coming to Bangladesh in near future, the state minister replied in negative saying that if necessary he might come later.

The UN chief also appreciated the Bangladesh's contribution to UN peace keeping mission, he added.

Later, he met with the visiting EU parliamentary delegation at the secretariat and briefed reporters claiming that the team did not express any concern about the human rights situation in Bangladesh.

The delegation members continue to call upon the BNP to delink its ties with Jamaat, the state minister said.

Meanwhile, responding to a query about Fernández‑Taranco's visit in Bangladesh, the UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, during yesterday's daily briefing, said: "There's currently no plan at this point for Mr Fernández‑Taranco to travel back to Bangladesh.  He has been there before."

"He (Fernández‑Taranco) has been tasked by the Secretary‑General to be in contact with the Government and the opposition and he will continue with those efforts.  But, at this point, like I said, there's no travel to announce," the deputy spokesman said.

Asked about the current situation of Bangladesh including extrajudicial killings and people's sufferings, Farhan Haq said, "I don't have anything particularly new. Of course, we've expressed our concerns about the loss of life and violence that have occurred in Bangladesh since the start of this year."

"The Secretary‑General is personally committed to the stability and development of Bangladesh, which is one of the close partners of the United Nations, and given this commitment, he reiterates his calling for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, he added.

The political situation of the country heated up once again, a year after the January 5 elections since the start of this year with the 10th polls' first anniversary – the day ruling Awami League labels as "democracy saving day" and the BNP as "democracy killing day".

On January 5, the BNP-led 20-party alliance called the nonstop blockade protesting the government's resistance on holding their rally marking the day.

The alliance also enforced a fresh spate of 72hr hartal from Sunday which was extended to Friday 6:00am on top of the blockade.

The blockades and shutdowns have been marked with mindless violence, arsons and train derailments that have claimed 71 lives so far and disrupted education and businesses.

Meanwhile, during the daily press briefing on February 17, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq responded to some questions about the current situation of Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH'S PART OF THE TUESDAY'S DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL:

Deputy Spokesman: Good afternoon, everyone.

Question:  Thank you, Farhan. Would you please tell me about current situation of Bangladesh — any development?  Do you have any development on the situation in Bangladesh?  Extrajudicial killings are going on.  People are suffering.  So, do you have any update on it?

Deputy Spokesman:  I don't have anything particularly new.  Of course, we've expressed our concerns about the loss of life and violence that have occurred in Bangladesh since the start of this year.  The Secretary‑General is personally committed to the stability and development of Bangladesh, which is one of the close partners of the United Nations, and given this commitment, he reiterates his calling for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.  Yes?

Question:  I wanted to… there was a report that… local report in Bangladesh that Mr. [Oscar Fernández-] Taranco is going there on a visit, and this was denied by the Permanent Mission here, Ambassador [Abdul] Momen, who said he has not spoken to him.  Can you… I guess, because it becomes important, Ambassador Momen went on to say this is a terrorism problem in Bangladesh similar to that of ISIS, basically implying that there are not two parties to be mediated, but rather one party to be denounced.  I wonder, what's your response to that?  And is Mr. Taranco seeking to go to the country, and why hasn't he spoken with the Permanent Representative here in New York?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, right now on the first question:  There's currently no plan at this point for Mr. Fernández Taranco to travel back to Bangladesh.  He has been there before.  He has been tasked by the Secretary General to be in contact with the Government and the opposition and he will continue with those efforts.  But, at this point, like I said, there's no travel to announce.