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UN team due today to rescue politics

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT
The United Nations is sending a high-profile mission to Bangladesh today to encourage the political parties to sit for dialogue and create an environment conducive to holding an inclusive, non-violent and credible election.
UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco will lead a five-member delegation comprised of two senior officials from the
Department of Political Affairs, a director from the Electoral Assistance Division and a senior mediation expert of the UN to discuss with stakeholders the ongoing political crisis centred on the general election scheduled for January 5.
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon might be sending the political mission as a last-ditch attempt on behalf of the international community to resolve the ongoing crisis.
This will be Taranco's third visit to Dhaka since he first came on December 10, last year. His second visit was in May.
Hein his earlier visits called for a solution to the issue of electoral system
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through talks between the ruling and the opposition parties.
Asked what would be the consequences if the dialogue failed, the UN official at a press conference on May 13 said, "Bangladesh's history is a good indicator, and the political actors could clearly understand what the consequences would be."
Despite repeated calls by the LIN and influential countries, there has been no progress in breaking the political deadlock. Instead, the political parties moved towards confrontation that has recently taken a serious turn.
During his visit this time, Taranco will meet the prime minister, BNP chairperson, leaders of other political parties, chief election commissioner, foreign diplomats, civil society members and media personnel.
The international community has made it clear to the political parties in Bangladesh that it wants continuation of the democratic process, peace and stability, and has also warned them of the consequences if Bangladesh fails to hold a free, fair and inclusive election, diplomatic sources said.
Ahead of Taranco's visit, the UN secretary general wrote to Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia on November 27 that the upcoming election should be inclusive, non-violent and credible to the people of Bangladesh. He also informed the two leaders that he would send an envoy, Taranco, to talk to them in this regard.
Ban also requested Hasina and Khaleda to cooperate with the UN official.
Taranco along with four others is expected to arrive in Dhaka this evening. He has no official engagement for the day, foreign ministry officials said.
According to his itinerary, the UN official will first meet Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque at 10:00am tomorrow and then Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.
He will also hold meetings with Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Taranco will call on the PM at Gono Bhaban at 4:00pm and the BNP chief at 6:30pm. He is likely to meet them again on December 9 or 10 before leaving Bangladesh.
An official of local UN office said the UN secretary general had repeatedly given the message that he wanted to see Bangladesh as a role model of the developing countries in
the world and so any obstacle to the continuation of democratic process would be unexpected.
IT IS UP TO BANGLADESHIS
Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Heather Cruden yesterday said the international community would not act as a mediator between the political parties to resolve the ongoing crisis relating to the national election.
"It's not the international community to mediate. It's up to the people of Bangladesh and political parties to come to the solution," she told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali at the foreign ministry.
Asked about Canada's position in case of any one-sided election, she said, "I think it's up to the people of Bangladesh to decide."
She referred to her earlier statement issued on December 3 and said Canada had been dismayed by the continued escalation of violence in the country, in which innocent people were killed and injured.
It is still possible for all parties to find a negotiated solution to ensure an inclusive, credible and peaceful election, she noted.