UN call for all parties to engage in dialogue

The United Nations has reiterated the need for all the political parties to engage in dialogue and called upon the authorities to allow freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of the media.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, made the call in response to a question at the daily briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York on January 18.

When the reaction of the UN was asked over the latest event of alleged enforced disappearance of BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed, he said; "Well, we've discussed this a few times in recent days, and you're aware of what Stéphane (Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary General) and I have said about the United Nations' concerns and its efforts concerning Bangladesh."

He said he did not have anything new to add on that. "But the concerns that you were mentioning are in line with what we've been talking about, and the need for all sides to engage in dialogue and for the authorities to allow freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of the media," he said.

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