Dhaka, July 26 (BDNEWS) - The government and the foreign diplomats in Dhaka are now at loggerheads over the issue of next general elections as Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan Tuesday came down heavily on the foreign diplomats over their "interference" into internal affairs.
"The diplomats must follow the diplomatic norms. Diplomacy is not anything like collective bargaining agent (CBA)...the country would not be governed with the dictation of any so-called group," Khan told journalists at his office replying queries of journalists about the 'Tuesday Group'.
'Tuesday Group' is an informal forum of the foreign diplomats that played an active role before the October 1 Parliamentary elections in 2001. The leading envoys under the group include the USA, Canada, UK, the European Union, France and Germany.
Dubbing the next general elections as a "crucial event" for Bangladesh, British High Commissioner in Dhaka Anwar Choudhury has recently said the major political parties should sit together on the Caretaker Government reform issue.
"We think, it is a crucial event for the future of Bangladesh. We hope the elections would be free, fair and accepted. We have always assisted you in this regard and we will assist you again," said Choudhury at a press conference.
The foreign envoys are planning to hold a roundtable discussion in November this year with around 400 participants from home and abroad to discuss the ways and means to make the next general elections free, fair and neutral one.
But, the government is taking a strong swipe on the activities of the envoys and thinking their activities as "interference".
The Foreign Minister said the government is running the country according to the Constitution of the country.
"A diplomat cannot make comment to bring amendment in the Constitution of another country or they cannot even make comment to govern the country," Khan said adding that the issues which can be discussed in the Parliament, should be discussed in the House.
There cannot be any demand for changing the constitution of a country by any other country or diplomatic club, he added.
Khan said he does not "know or understand" anything about any 'Tuesday Group or Wednesday Group'.
"Diplomatic relations is established and grown up bilaterally, not guided by any group. It is not a trade union. They are now putting demand like the trade union or collective bargaining agent (CBA)," Khan said indicating the Tuesday Group. "But, they must not act like that."
The FM said the Tuesday Group is not any recognised institution, but a club of the diplomats who can arrange seminars.
Taking a swipe, Khan said the diplomatic relations also directed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs according to the Rules of Business and it is not run through any other institution.
"There is no other window they have to communicate with any country besides the Foreign Ministry," Khan said.
Asked about the proposed roundtable discussion to be arranged by the Tuesday Group, possibly in November or December, Khan replied: I don't know anything about their matter of discussion.
The Foreign Minister questioned whether a country would be run according to the direction from others. In a democratic country, he said, a government bows its head to the wish of the people, as they are the owners of all power.
Khan said Bangladesh values freedom of opinion, which has to be within democratic norms and practices.
During national elections, he said, the Election Commission would invite election observers as Bangladesh has nothing to hide.
In reply to another question, the Minister said he was not aware that Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK AHM Mofazzal Karim has been recalled.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued any such order and he has not heard of any body else's name as the new High Commissioner to UK, Khan told a questioner.
BDNEWS/2013 hrs
