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UN chief worried at heightened tensions

Staff Correspondent
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon remains “very concerned" over heightened tensions and continued violence in Bangladesh, and has renewed his appeal to all political leaders for finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis.
On the arrest warrants against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, UN chiefs spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "We are obviously aware of the arrest warrant that was issued against the leader of the BNP. The secretary general remains very concerned."
Dujarric made the statement in reply to a question at a daily press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York early yesterday.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament's (EP) sub-committee on human rights yesterday placed before the EP its report on its recent visit to Bangladesh.
The three-member delegation led by Cristian Dan Predo came to Dhaka on February 16 to assess the human rights situation in the country, focusing on areas of labour rights, children and women, and minority rights.
During its five-day visit, the team called on members of the government, leaders of the BNP and other political parties, trade union and business leaders, environmental activists, and members of the civil society and minority groups.
Details of the EP's discussion on the report couldn't be known as it took place in a closed-door session.
At the press briefing, Dujarric said, “I think as we are seeing these heightened tensions and the continuing violence, political violence we are seeing in Bangladesh, and again, he [the UN chief] renews his appeal to all political leaders to seek a peaceful resolution to the current crisis for the good of long-term development and the stability of Bangladesh."
On Wednesday, a Dhaka court issued arrest warrants against the BNP
chief for skipping court hearings on four consecutive dates in two corruption cases.
Of the cases, Zia Orphanage Trust graft case was filed by the AntiCorruption Commission in July 2008 during the caretaker government's tenure and Zia Charitable Trust graft case also by the ACC in August 2011 during the previous tenure of the Awami League-led government.
Officials at the Special Judge's Court-3, which issued the warrants, declined to say whether they had sent the warrants to the police stations concerned.
Briefing reporters yesterday at his Minto Road office, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said once they get the warrants, they will go through those and act in accordance with the court's instructions.
Officers-in-charge of Gulshan and Cantonment police stations yesterday afternoon said they were yet to get the warrants for Khaleda's arrest.
The warrants were issued at a time when the country faces a political crisis. The BNP-led 20-party alliance launched a non-stop countrywide blockade on January 6, demanding an early national election under a non-party government.