DHAKA: Both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia have replied to the UN secretary general's letters calling for dialogues.

A competent source said that the PM, in her reply, ruled out possibility of holding dialogue with BNP which carrying out terror activities in the country.

Sheikh Hasina also hoped that BNP will restore peace in the country by calling off the programs like hartal and blockade.

On the other hand, Khaleda Zia, in the letter, cleared her party’s stance on meaningful dialogue and declined the responsibility of ongoing violence across the country.

However, on January 30, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon wrote to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, with a call to hold constructive dialogue to resolve the prevailing political stalemate.

Moreover, Bangladesh Permanent Mission at UN refuted the report of the arrival of BNP chief’s letter at UN secretary general’s office via Bangladesh Permanent Mission.

Dr AK Abdul Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, told banglanews that the Mission did not get any letter from Khaleda Zia and they have no information regarding the direct arrival of the letter to the UN.

In his letter, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon requested the PM and BNP chief to cooperate with UN assistant secretary general Oscar Taranco who had been tasked to be in contact with them.

Meanwhile, the mission also questioned about the accuracy of the report published in the media on Taranco’s preparation for Dhaka tour.

When contacted, Dr Momen said he met Taranco in several days ago but did not talk about his possible Bangladesh visit.

Taranco took Bangladesh government’s permission through the permanent mission during his every previous tour to Dhaka, he added.

Dr Momen further said that they cleared the government’s anti-terrorism stance and informed the UN about the ongoing violent activities of BNP and Jamaat.

According to him, US also supports Bangladesh government’s stance to settle the ongoing political deadlock.

US hopes that Bangladesh will be able to come up with its own solutions, he added.

BDST: 1637 HRS, FEB 28, 2015