UK envoy for national reconciliation between govt, political parties

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury yesterday called for a national reconciliation between the government and political parties to implement the roadmap to hold credible elections and ensure sustainable democracy in Bangladesh.
“Unless you have national reconciliation or national unity on a single purpose, you will continue to have differences, disputes and doubts that have put you in the current situation,” he said.
The high commissioner made the remarks while exchanging views with members of the Diplomatic Correspondents' Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) over an Iftar party at the Jatiya Press Club.
Asked if he thinks there is room for a dialogue between the government and the two detained prime ministers to find a way, the British envoy declined to comment on that.
He said Bangladesh has a stable political history but there are far more worse countries in the world like South Africa were they have found a way for national reconciliation.
Anwar said Bangladesh now stands at a crossroad of breaking or making. “It's a crossroad of beginning of a new journey”
Welcoming the election roadmap, he said the country needs to institutionalise fundamentals of democracy like political parties, government, parliament, police and other institutions through reforms.
“You should ensure that there is no slippage of the roadmap and to check the slippage, the election should be held as soon as possible,” the British HC said.
Reminding the responsibility of journalists, he said some people may have luxury of being irresponsible, but journalists cannot.
Praising the courage and commitment of the Bangladeshi journalists, he said many journalists have been killed in 2005-2006 for writing against terrorism and corruption.
Chowdhury said at the juncture of the nation, journalists must uphold their commitment to make the complicated things easier through their analytical writings. He also favored freedom of expression and freedom of the press saying that democracy and free press go hand in hand.
DCAB President Anis Alamgir and General Secretary Rahit Azaz spoke on
the occasion. Jatiya Press Club President Shawkat Mahmud and General Secretary Kamal Uddin were present.