UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Bangladesh’ s
most pressing need is to ensure a peaceful transition back to democracy
and for the incoming elected government to consolidate the democracy
and reform to stem a recurrence of confrontational politics.
“This
is an opportunity for the country, and in particular the political
parties, to address the serious problems that have given rise to the
politics of confrontation and violence,” he told a banquet at the
Sheraton Hotel last night.
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and
his wife Neena Ahmed hosted the banquet in honor of the visiting UN
secretary general and his spouse Ban Soon-Taek.
The chief
executive of the United Nations arrived here in the evening on a
two-day visit to Bangladesh, at a crucial time when the country is
striving to steer clear of a serious crisis over election issues that
had prompted the current state of emergency.
In his banquet
speech the UN secretary general said the current political dialogue
between the government and the political parties in the process of
transition must succeed.
“But equally important is for an
ongoing, constructive dialogue to take shape between the leadership of
the two main political parties, so as to stabilize and strengthen the
quality of democracy in this country,” Ban Ki-moon told the function.
He
didn’t name Awami League and BNP, the two former ruling parties whose
rivalry is broadly blamed for confrontation in politics and the
eventual 1/11 changeover.
He noted that much commendable work
has been done to prepare for a credible election in December. “The
photo voter list commands widespread confidence. I am proud that the
United Nations was able to contribute toward this important
achievement,” he said.
The UN secretary general said it is now
important to build on these achievements and to have in place the
political and security condition necessary for a credible election. The
protection of human rights is a vital element of this effort.
“You
now face the challenge of ensuring a smooth return to a better
democracy-a democracy that is sustainable and responsive to the needs
of the people. In making this happen, I hope that the country and its
leaders will be inspired by the best of Bangladesh’s history and its
rich cultural heritage,” he told his elite audience of Dhaka.
He assured that UN system would remain Bangladesh’s close partner in facing the challenges ahead.
Ban
Ki-moon noted that the people of Bangladesh have repeatedly made
decisions that display courage, resourcefulness and independence of
mind.
Listing the laudable achievements, he said, “They defended
their language when it was threatened, they fought for independence
when the odds stood against them, they reduced the rate of population
density reached alarming levels and they gave the poor a chance to
prove their creditworthiness through micro-credit.”
Earlier,
UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, accompanied by his spouse Ban
Soon-taek, arrived here yesterday afternoon on a two-day visit.
Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received him at Zia International Airport at 5:30pm.
The
UN secretary general will hold official talks with the Foreign Adviser
at Sonargaon Hotel this evening when UN development programs in the
country and Bangladesh’s UN peacekeeping missions are expected to
figure prominently.
The UN chief will attend a dinner to be hosted by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at Hotel Sheraton tonight.
Ban Ki-Moon will call on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.
He is also likely to meet some political leaders.
The UN secretary general will visit the National Mausoleum at Savar today to pay homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War.
Later, he will visit a UNDP-funded Comprehensive Disaster Management Project in Sirajganj and a Grameen project site in Bogra.
Source: The New Nation