UNB, Dhaka :
Emphasizing home-grown solution, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Neal Walker on Sunday said only leaders of the two major political parties of Bangladesh, not the outsiders including the United Nations (UN), can play any role in creating conducive environment for an inclusive election in future.
“My view is that the solution must come from Bangladesh, mainly from two political leaders. This (dialogue and solution) really depends on the will of both sides… no outsiders, and the UN never pretended to do that,” he said while interacting with the diplomatic correspondents at the Jaitya Press Club in the city.
Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) arranged the ‘DCAB Talk’ with its president Mainul Alam in the chair. DCAB general secretary Angur Nahar Monty was present.
Walker laid emphasis on the need to develop an inclusive democracy that would allow the two leading parties to compete on a level playing field and that would allow Bangladesh voters the electoral choices they want to have.
“What Bangladesh witnessed in 2013 serves only to strengthen radical and/or
conservative religious groups. It distorts dialogue, which should have been focused on the political platforms of the two leading parties, instead of on caretaker government – yes or caretaker government – no. This is a problem which only Bangladeshis can solve,” he said.
Before the January 5 elections, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández Taranco came to Dhaka to break political deadlocks and help reach a consensus for an inclusive election but his efforts went in vain as the alliance led by BNP boycotted the polls.
The UN Resident Coordinator said urgent actions need to be taken to create the conditions for inclusive elections. “But it is not for the UN to set any kind of timeline for such efforts and it doesn’t dictate what the conditions would be for inclusive elections.”
He said, people of Bangladesh and its political leaders would have to find the solution and they would have to agree on the conditions for inclusive elections.
“We simply try to get the two sides sit together,” Walker said adding that the issues that were discussed before the January 5 elections still remain the same.
Replying to a question, the UN diplomat said it is only the leaders of the main political parties that can agree on the conditions that would create level playing field for inclusive elections.
The issues, defined by Bangladeshis themselves, that include Prime Minister’s authority in the time of elections, composition of election time government, issue of securities so that all political parties and citizens feel secured, and the issue of Election Commission’s independence still remain the same, he said.
Asked whether he or the UN is still ready to play the role of facilitator like before, Walker said it would be premature to say any thing further on it.
Responding to a question on UN’s role on Gaza issue, he said the UN chief has made a strong statement and others steps have been taken that may not be enough. “He’s investing himself personally in this issue.”
The UN Resident Coordinator also said that the UN is owned by its member states including Bangladesh, Russia, Japan and other countries. “Only the member states can decide what the UN does or doesn’t. Ask us to act. If you do not ask us to act, we can’t act.”
Walker said, they have no capacity to act on their own and the UN is a tool. When the world demands action, the UN responds. He does not see any failure of UN in handling Gaza issue.
Asked about the UN’s position on death penalty issue, the diplomat said the UN does not agree with death penalty but it does respect nation’s decision.
He also said that, the UN chief did not ask Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to execute Jamaat leader Quader Mollah, but requested.
Emphasizing home-grown solution, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Neal Walker on Sunday said only leaders of the two major political parties of Bangladesh, not the outsiders including the United Nations (UN), can play any role in creating conducive environment for an inclusive election in future.
“My view is that the solution must come from Bangladesh, mainly from two political leaders. This (dialogue and solution) really depends on the will of both sides… no outsiders, and the UN never pretended to do that,” he said while interacting with the diplomatic correspondents at the Jaitya Press Club in the city.
Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) arranged the ‘DCAB Talk’ with its president Mainul Alam in the chair. DCAB general secretary Angur Nahar Monty was present.
Walker laid emphasis on the need to develop an inclusive democracy that would allow the two leading parties to compete on a level playing field and that would allow Bangladesh voters the electoral choices they want to have.
“What Bangladesh witnessed in 2013 serves only to strengthen radical and/or
conservative religious groups. It distorts dialogue, which should have been focused on the political platforms of the two leading parties, instead of on caretaker government – yes or caretaker government – no. This is a problem which only Bangladeshis can solve,” he said.
Before the January 5 elections, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández Taranco came to Dhaka to break political deadlocks and help reach a consensus for an inclusive election but his efforts went in vain as the alliance led by BNP boycotted the polls.
The UN Resident Coordinator said urgent actions need to be taken to create the conditions for inclusive elections. “But it is not for the UN to set any kind of timeline for such efforts and it doesn’t dictate what the conditions would be for inclusive elections.”
He said, people of Bangladesh and its political leaders would have to find the solution and they would have to agree on the conditions for inclusive elections.
“We simply try to get the two sides sit together,” Walker said adding that the issues that were discussed before the January 5 elections still remain the same.
Replying to a question, the UN diplomat said it is only the leaders of the main political parties that can agree on the conditions that would create level playing field for inclusive elections.
The issues, defined by Bangladeshis themselves, that include Prime Minister’s authority in the time of elections, composition of election time government, issue of securities so that all political parties and citizens feel secured, and the issue of Election Commission’s independence still remain the same, he said.
Asked whether he or the UN is still ready to play the role of facilitator like before, Walker said it would be premature to say any thing further on it.
Responding to a question on UN’s role on Gaza issue, he said the UN chief has made a strong statement and others steps have been taken that may not be enough. “He’s investing himself personally in this issue.”
The UN Resident Coordinator also said that the UN is owned by its member states including Bangladesh, Russia, Japan and other countries. “Only the member states can decide what the UN does or doesn’t. Ask us to act. If you do not ask us to act, we can’t act.”
Walker said, they have no capacity to act on their own and the UN is a tool. When the world demands action, the UN responds. He does not see any failure of UN in handling Gaza issue.
Asked about the UN’s position on death penalty issue, the diplomat said the UN does not agree with death penalty but it does respect nation’s decision.
He also said that, the UN chief did not ask Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to execute Jamaat leader Quader Mollah, but requested.
