British High Commissioner Robert Gibson on Wednesday urged all parties to consider confidence-building measures in a bid to defuse the current tension in Bangladesh and stop violence. “I urge all parties to consider confidence-building measures that would defuse the current tension in the country and allow normal life to resume,” he said. Gibson further said, “In the long term, I hope that further confidence-building measures can be taken that will ultimately break the habitual cycle of violence and disruption that appears to characterise elections in Bangladesh and which would allow all legitimate activity to take place peacefully.” Gibson came up with the remarks while talking to reporters in front of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office after nearly an hour-long meeting with her. Gibson met the BNP chairperson at a time when law enforcers are not allowing any leaders and activists of the BNP-led 20-party alliance since February 1-the day cable, internet and land phone connections to her office were disconnected. It was also the first-ever meeting of Khaleda with any foreign envoys stationed in Dhaka since January 3. The British envoy came to Khaleda Zia’s office around 4:55pm and sat in the meeting with her. Gibson said he has been consistently called on all political parties to fully consider the effects of their actions and refrain from causing further damage to the country’s national interest. The UK envoy said the extent of current violence and disruption to the lives of all people in Bangladesh is distressing and deplorable. Gibson said his country is committed to future stability, development and prosperity of Bangladesh in which they are and will remain a close partner. During the meeting, he said he offered his personal sympathies to the BNP chief over the loss of her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko died on January 24 at his rented house in Malaysia. BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s adviser Sabihuddin Ahmed and a senior official of the British High Commission were present at the meeting. However, there was no briefing on the meeting from BNP’s side. — UNB, Dhaka.
