British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson is holding a one-on-one meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her office.
Published : 11 Feb 2015, 04:43 PM
bdnews24.com Chief Political Correspondent Sumon Mahmud said Gibson’s meeting with the BNP chief is her first with a diplomat since the agitation began.
The black Land Cruiser carrying Gibson entered the office around 5pm on Wednesday.
The main gate had been closed since Jan 3 when Khaleda announced the transport blickade on Jan 5, the first anniversary of the last general election boycotted by her party and allies.
A pick-up truck blocking the gate was removed minutes before the British envoy had arrived.
BNP chief’s Advisor Sabih Uddin Ahmed, her Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan and Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas welcomed Gibson.
The BNP chief had been surrounded by police in her office since Jan 3 and on Jan 5, they prevented her from coming out to lead anti-government protests on the first anniversary of the last general election.
The non-stop nationwide transport blockade has left at least 60 people killed so far, most burnt to death in fire-bombings.
Western countries have all expressed their concern in strongest terms over the violence that they said must stop. The US, EU, UK and Canada have called for an immediate end to violence . India has left it to Bangladesh to resolve its own crisis.
A group of citizens belatedly offered a plan for dialogue and reportedly wrote to the president, prime minister and BNP chief.
BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan has sought UN intervention to end the impasse in an email interview to the ‘Times of India’.
However, many diplomats went to the office amid blockades to write in the condolence book opened after the death of Khaleda’s younger son Arafat Rahman Coco on Jan 24 in Malaysia.
Gibson earlier in a statement after his return from a short break in the UK on Feb 5 also worried over the ‘detrimental effect’ of the violence on children’s education and Bangladesh’s economy.
The envoy had called on all parties to refrain from “inciting or committing acts of violence and intimidation”.
He also called on government and all other parties “to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law, and to come together to break this cycle of violence and disruption”.
On Feb 7, he tweeted, “But the carnage continues. It must not go on. We must all work together to bring a peaceful and sustainable end to this senseless violence.”
Britain is the largest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh.