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Western envoys try to end stalemate in Bangladesh
By Indo Asian News Service,
Nov 20, 2006 - 6:03:21 PM
Dhaka, Nov 20 (IANS) Envoys of the US and Britain have stepped up efforts to facilitate an amicable solution to the political stalemate over the reconstitution of the controversial Election Commission to conduct the parliamentary polls due in January.
The two envoys held hectic last minute consultations with different political parties and officials of the caretaker government as also the Election Commission to find a solution to the blockade threat of the 14-party alliance led by the Awami League if the government is unable to prove its neutrality.
Sensing the current political mood in the country, the two envoys have gone beyond their diplomatic calls, commenting on the 'lack of confidence' in the poll body with M.A. Aziz at the helm.
'It's clear that the Election Commission has lost the confidence of the people of Bangladesh,' US Ambassador Patricia Butenis was quoted as saying.
The US envoy expressed her country's 'disappointment' over the evolving political situation in Bangladesh and urged both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League to resolve the crisis through dialogue, New Age newspaper said.
Among the most pro-active diplomats stationed in Dhaka, the statement of Butenis marked a departure from what US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher had said during his recent visit to Bangladesh.
Boucher had supported the efforts of the caretaker government headed by President Iajuddin Ahmed to find a solution to the stalemate.
However, Butenis was seen by the diplomatic and political circles in Dhaka as hardening her position since Ahmed, accused of working 'under pressure' of the rival political alliance led by BNP, had failed to act on this issue till late Sunday night.
'We are missing the last chance to resolve the political crisis peacefully,' Butenis warned, adding diplomatically: 'I have urged the leaders of BNP, Awami League and their alliance partners to resolve things through dialogue.'
British envoy Anwar Choudhury, who is of Bangladeshi origin, too has stepped up efforts to help end the stalemate that has seen the alliance led by Hasina suspending the stir twice to facilitate a decision, but with no results.
Choudhury called on Chief Election Commissioner Aziz, who has refused to quit and remains a controversial figure for defying the Supreme Court on updating of the voters' list.
'We still don't see any agreements and the confidence that the country desperately seems to be asking for. Yes, it does worry not to see more progress,' the Daily Star newspaper quoted Choudhury saying.
'We must wait towards finding a better consensus', he added.
'CEC (Aziz) agreed that nothing - no institutions, nobody must stand in the way of holding free, fair and acceptable elections that is critical to the people of this country,' said the high commissioner.
But Aziz has refused to quit, contending that the interim government cannot make changes in his position under the constitution.
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