New York: United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stressed that the organisation do not support election boycott in democracy, rather problems can be solved through dialogue.
The top UN official Ban Ki-Moon told this to visiting Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid in a bilateral meeting held at UN headquarters on Thursday.
The UN Secretary General, during the meeting, called upon the Bangladesh president to initiate a fresh dialogue over the prevailing political impasse in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh permanent representative to UN Dr. AK Abdul Momen told Banglanews regarding the outcome of the high level meeting between the two sides.
He also told that the meeting held between the two in a very cordial atmosphere in which the UN Secretary General highly appreciated Bangladesh’s endeavors in reducing the maternal death rate, reduction of poverty, and disaster management.
In this context President Abdul Hamid informed Ban Ki-Moon that after the election political stability has been brought back in the country, Dr Momen added.
The president also informed that there are still some problems and the incumbent government has been working to overcome those.
Replying to these, the UN top official said that democracy does not support election boycott. All problems can be solved through dialogue.
Banglanews also talked to President’s press secretary Ehsanul Karim Helal.
Helal told, “The UN secretary General mentioned Bangladesh as a partner of UN in global development.”
President Abdul Hamid during the meeting called upon the UN secretary to appoint the Bangladeshis in higher posts in the peace keeping contingents and to increase the number of Bangladeshis in the civil administration of UN.
At one point of discussion, the President reminded the Secretary General the fact that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina once sent troops for UN Peacekeeping Mission he had requested to send on an emergency basis within 48 hours.
President’s press secretary informed that President Abdul Hamid informed the UN secretary about Bangladesh’s commitment to continue cooperation in maintaining global peace and security.
During meeting UN secretary was assisted by Under Secretary General Amira Haque and other senior officials.
The president was accompanied by senior secretary Sheikh Altaf Ali, ambassador Dr. AK Abdul Momen, Military Affairs Secretary Major General Abul Hossain and Press Secretary Ehsanul Karim Helal.
In the evening, Bangladeshi origin UN Under Secretary General Amira Haque met with the president in his hotel suit.
Earlier, the President along with his wife visited the Bangladesh Mission in the afternoon. The Mission officials were present along with their wives.
The president urged the Mission officials to work with integrity and devotion to make image of the country brighter.
In the night, the President attended a reception organized in his honor by the Kishoreganj Zilla Samity.
President Abdul Hamid will fly for the home on Saturday morning.
BDST: 1518 HRS, JUNE 20, 2014
