PM wants UN chief to persuade BNP into' return to democracy'
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday expressed her hope that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would advise BNP to return to the democratic politics shunning the path of “terrorist and militant” activities.
She made the request when the UN secretary general called her over the phone in the afternoon.
Later, Prime Minister's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri briefed reporters about the 14-minute conversation.
He said the prime minister told the UN general secretary that BNP had created anarchy across the country over the last three months since January 5, burning innocent people through hurling petrol bombs and arson attacks.
About the recent city corporation polls in Dhaka and Chittagong, Hasina said on an average over 44 percent voters exercised their franchise and the number of votes cast was not abnormal.
She mentioned that the Election Commission announced the results discarding 5 percent of the votes over which there were some allegations.
Referring to the skipping of BNP from the polls on the election day, Hasina said their aim was to make the polls questionable.
Ban Ki-moon strongly criticised violence and subversive acts and said there was no place of such activities in a democracy.
The UN chief said BNP's participation in the polls was relieving. However, he expressed concern over the party's withdrawal from the election in the middle of the voting day.
Ban Ki-moon also said that the UN had been informed about some irregularities in the elections.
The UN secretary general informed the prime minister that he gave responsibility to Assistant Secretary General Oscar Farnadez Taranko to hold talks on the overall situation.
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