Oscar Fernández Taranco, the UN assistant secretary general for political affairs, yesterday wanted to know from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if there was any scope for deferring the polls date, to which Hasina said it was for the Election Commission to decide.
Taranco also met opposition leader Khaleda Zia, but the outcome of the meeting was not disclosed by either side.
He held a one-to-one meeting with Hasina at the Gono Bhaban at 4:00pm and with Khaleda at her Gulshan residence at 7:00pm.
PM’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi told reporters after the meeting with Hasina that the UN official sought to know if the election date could be deferred. The PM told Taranco that only the EC had that jurisdiction.

“I cannot comment on the progress or no-progress of the talks at this stage,” BNP Vice-president Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told reporters about Taranco’s meeting with Khaleda.
The UN official also met senior Awami League leaders, the foreign minister and his secretary and six influential foreign diplomats based in Dhaka yesterday, the first day of his four-day visit.
He arrived on Friday night to try break the political impasse centring on the election scheduled for January 5.
During his meetings he clearly conveyed to top political players that the election must be “inclusive, free, fair and non-violent if the results are to be credible and acceptable” to the people.
“Time is very limited but the door [for talks] should be open,” a highly placed source quoted Taranco as saying in a meeting.During his meetings with the political leaders, Taranco called upon them to work together for a constructive dialogue to find a way forward and create an environment for an inclusive and peaceful election.
The UN official regretted the violence during hartal and blockade that killed and injured many, meeting source said.
He said the UN secretary general was seriously concerned about the latest wave of deadly violence ahead of the election and called upon all to respect the rule of law, exercise restraint and express views peacefully, the sources added.
He also made it clear that solution would not come from the international community — it had to come from home.

Visiting Oscar Fernández-Taranco, UN assistant secretary-general for political affairs, calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gono Bhaban yesterday. Taranco in the evening also met Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia, right, at her Gulshan home. The official is leading a team in Dhaka, which many hope would be able to broker a deal between the rival parties ending the political deadlock. PHOTO: BSS/BNP

Taranco noted that the UN always respected constitutional framework and wanted the continuation of democratic process so that Bangladesh’s achievements and its social indicators remained unhampered.
The UN chief is very keen about Bangladesh and always inquires about the country because his first diplomatic posting was in Bangladesh, he mentioned.
He added that the UN was ready to provide electoral assistance and would jointly coordinate the international observers during the election.
DAY’S SCHEDULE
The UN team began the day with a breakfast meeting at German House where it held talks with German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Albrecht Conze, British High Commissioner Robert Gibson, Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden and ambassadors to the European Union and China William Hanna and Li Jun respectively.
The five-member delegation then met Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque at his office and discussed the UN’s electoral assistance and other election-related matters for about 45 minutes.
There the UN officials also met Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali separately and discussed the political turbulence, violence and the upcoming election.
The minister briefed the team about government efforts for holding talks also the initiatives taken for holding the election in a free and fair manner.
The UN officials conveyed the UN secretary general’s message of holding a dialogue and arranging an inclusive, credible election.
Before meeting the AL leaders, the UN assistant secretary general spoke with US Ambassador in Bangladesh Dan Mozena at Sonargaon Hotel for about half an hour.
The AL delegation included party leaders Syed Ashraful Islam, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Faruk Khan and former diplomat Shaheed Reza and Gowher Rizvi.
After the meeting, Ashraf sought cooperation from all for holding the election with participation of all. But he added the polls would he on January 5 as per the schedule.
Asked what he meant by all, he told reporters: “I am talking about those currently involved in the electoral process. There are many parties that are not taking part in the election…. I am talking about those participating in the election.”
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today, the UN team will meet Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad at 9:30am, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed 11:00am and civil society members at 3:00pm.