UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an urgent dialogue to reach an acceptable formula to hold an "inclusive, non-violent and credible election".

Visiting UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco conveyed the UN chief's message during separate meetings with the foreign minister and foreign secretary today, meeting sources said.

"Time is very limited," Taranco quoted the UN secretary general as saying.

During the meetings, Taranco made it clear that there should be a dialogue to reach a consensus for holding an acceptable general election.

The United Nations wants continuation of democratic process in Bangladesh, he said.

Taranco, who is leading a five-member high-profile political mission, and Neal Walker, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, first met Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque at his Secretariat office.

They had a 45-minute discussion from 10:00am.

Later, they held another 45-minute meeting with the foreign minister at his office.

UN official later met a seven-member group of Awami League leaders at Sonargaon Hotel.

The AL leaders include Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Syed Ashraful Islam, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Gowher Rizvi and AL international affairs secretary Col Faruk Khan and former diplomat Shaheed Reza.

Taranco arrived in Dhaka last night on a four-day visit to hold talks with political leaders to figure out a mutually acceptable formula to holding an “inclusive, non-violent and credible” election.

Diplomatic circle considers the visit of Taranco highly significant as it is apparently the last-ditch diplomatic effort to encourage all interlocutors for dialogues to hold the 10th parliamentary polls.

During his visit, Taranco is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban at 4:00pm and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia at 7:00pm today at her Gulshan home.

He will also meet Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad tomorrow.

The UN high-up also scheduled to meet the representatives of the civil society and the media.

Taranco had earlier visited Dhaka in December last year and May this year to work out a solution to the same political crisis “at the request” of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.