There is no alternative to irrigation to stop fruits from dropping, but water is scarce in the hilly region
UN Secy Gen praises PM’s talk overture
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dialogue offer to the opposition for resolving the current political impasse in the country, saying “it’s a brave and noble initiative”.
Published : 11 May 2013, 11:25 AM
Updated : 11 May 2013, 11:25 AM
Visiting Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the UN Oscar Fernndez Taranco conveyed this to the Prime Minister when he had called on her at her official Ganabhaban residence on Saturday.
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.
Azad said that the UN Secretary General praised Sheikh Hasina for her statesmanship and condemned the recent violence in Bangladesh and urged all to maintain peaceful atmosphere in the country.
Laying emphasis on creating conducive atmosphere for holding a free, fair and neutral election, Ban Ki-moon said there should not be any pre-condition for the dialogue.
Taranco said Bangladesh is a symbol of cooperation between the UN and other member states.
He praised the government for its all-out efforts for the rescue of the victims from the rubble of the collapsed building at Savar as a large number of victims have been rescued alive.
In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government strengthened the Election Commission to ensure the voting rights of people.
Hasina mentioned that the President has appointed the commissioners to the Election Commission through a search committee which had held discussions with all political parties.
In this context, she mentioned the holding of over 5,500 elections, including by-polls of Parliament, in a free, fair and neutral manner, and said no allegation has been raised about the elections.
In many cases candidates of the opposition parties won the polls, she added.
Hasina told the UN official that UN observers are always welcome to Bangladesh to oversee the situation here.
The Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, Ambassador at-Large Md. Ziauddin and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present during the meeting.
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