US, UK concerned over pre-election violence

Foreign diplomats from 17 countries, including the UK, India and EU, met BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office on Tuesday and discussed the latest political situation centring the city corporation election campaigns.
"The diplomats, including ambassadors, high commissioners and charge d' affaires, made a courtesy call after the BNP chairperson's motorcade came under attack on Monday," said Shahirul Kabir, a member of BNP Chairperson's press wing.
Although none of the diplomats spoke anything, party sources said they discussed election environment and stressed the need for maintaining a congenial atmosphere for holding the city corporation elections peacefully.
The BNP chairperson briefed the diplomats, stationed in Dhaka, about Monday's attack on her motorcade in the city's Karwanbazar area during her electioneering. The diplomats, sources said, expressed their concern over the attack on the motorcade.
The diplomats also went round the campus of BNP chairperson's office to see the vehicles damaged and broken in the attack during the election campaign. Four microbuses of Khaleda's security men were damaged during the attack.
The BNP chairperson also informed the diplomats of the role of the Election Commission (EC), especially its indifferent attitude towards opposition candidates. The EC also failed to provide level-playing field and stop harassment by law enforcement agency people, she told them.
Ambassador and representatives from 17 countries, including Japan, the UK, Russia, France, Australia, Canada, Turkey, Singapore, Denmark, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, India and Pakistan and the EU attended the meeting.
BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Khaleda's adviser Sabihuddin Ahmed, defense affairs adviser Maj Gen(Rtd) Fazle Elahi Akbor and advisory council member Abdul Quyum were present at that time.
Meanwhile, both the USA and the UK issued statements on Tuesday expressing their worries at the violent activities over the last one week and urged the government to ensure congenial atmosphere and protect candidates against political violence.
The United States in a statement deplored on Tuesday political violence surrounding the city elections in Dhaka and strongly condemned the use of violence for political objectives. "We call on all of those involved in the municipal elections to uphold their responsibility to ensure that the elections are free, fair, and non-violent," said a US statement in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The US also urged the security forces to permit free expression and association during election campaign to protect candidates against political violence, and to prosecute those who violate the law.
The British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert W Gibson CMG in a statement also expressed his concern over reports of violent incidents occurred during the past two weeks centring the city polls campaigning.
In a statement, issued on Tuesday, he stressed that it was the "responsibility" of all political parties, as well as the law enforcement and election authorities, to ensure that the campaign is conducted without violence and intimidation.
The statements came a day after BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's motorcade was attacked on Monday when she was campaigning for her party-endorsed Mayor candidate at Kawran Bazar.
    mzrbd@yahoo.com