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Credible JS Elections

Mozena for meaningful talks among parties

Diplomatic Correspondent
US Ambassador in Bangladesh Dan Mozena yesterday laid stress on constructive and meaningful dialogue among political parties so that they could agree to a mechanism for holding a free, fair, credible and participatory election.
"There must be an agreement among political parties as to how the election will
be held. There must be a mechanism. There must be a meaningful dialogue", he said, speaking at a discussion on "US Policy towards Bangladesh" at Hotel Lakeshore in the capital.
"Having lived in Bangladesh before, I genuinely believe this country must opt for democracy. This country has a thousand years of culture, so undemocratic experiments would not be successful in this country", he observed.
Laying importance on reaching an understanding to prepare the ground rules for elections, he said, “I believe there will be an agreement. Now the question is: when will the agreement be? Will it be next week, will it be next month? I don't know. The sooner the political parties reach an agreement on ground rules, the better it is".
Asked about the caretaker government system, he said he had no thought or position about it. "We believe major parties find ways or plans or mechanisms, whatever you mean, to hold a free, fair, credible and participatory election.”
The discussion was organised by Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS). BIPSS President Maj Gen ANM Muniruzzaman (retd) moderated the programme.
On issues of killing, disappearances and violation of human rights, Mozena said the US secretary of state during her visit had raised the issue of missing BNP leader Ilias Ali and the killing of labour leader Aminul Islam.
It is the duty of the government to ensure the security of its citizens and resolve issues through independent investigation, hesaid.
About the death of garment workers' leader Aminul Islam, he said it was not much in discussion in Bangladesh
but there was a sharp reaction in the US and Europe.
He said Hillary Clinton had informed the Bangladesh side that the US-based labour organisation NFL-CIO had filed a petition asking for a suspension of GSP benefits for Bangladesh.
US buyers are very concerned over labour situation in Bangladesh, he said, adding that three nights ago he had received a phone call from the CEO of a big US company at midnight. The (CEO) was worried about the growing negative publicity about Bangladesh in the US.
Similarly, two days ago six Bangladeshis working for US buyers met him and told him that their headquarters were not happy over the labour situation in Bangladesh, he added.
TICFA
Mozena said the TYade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) was a simple agreement and now the dispute had come down to one single issue-labour standards. “I hope it will end successfully”.
Justifying the importance of signing the deal, he said it would establish a platform to get together to find out the obstacles to trade and investment.
A delay in signing the agreement will send out a negative signal about Dhaka as the world might feel that Bangladesh is deviating from its commitment to establish international labour standards, he added.