The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi yesterday said the holding of dialogue with political parties was the responsibility of the Government and not of the diplomats.

"Foreign diplomats may hold their own talks with different groups, including political parties, media and businessmen," she said, clarifying that she was not holding political dialogues with political parties recently.

"Let me tell you frankly that I haven't started political dialogue; that's up to the government to do so," the US diplomat, who recently held separate talks with the Awami League (AL), the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party leaders on election matters, told journalists after attending an 'Open Day' programme discussion meeting at Gulshan Police Station in the capital.

Her meetings with the political parties seemingly prompted the Foreign Ministry to issue a note on Thursday saying that of late there has been a renewed perceptible tendency on part of some foreign diplomats to make remarks in public that a section of the media has perceived to be interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs.

A spokesman of the Ministry said diplomatic norms and standards are well recognised internationally and felt "it's expected that these should be conformed to by all practitioners of the profession".

"I was not holding political dialogue with the parties," she replied when asked to comment about the outcome of her recent 'dialogue' with political parties. "it was not the job of the diplomatic community to say whether dialogues between the government and political parties should take place.

"As a diplomat, I meet and exchange views with all members of Bangladesh society, the politicians, civil society, businesspeople, students, police and the media, and I am pleased to be able to do so," she said defending her move apparently refuted the government contention that she is holding dialogue with political parties, which is an interference in the country's domestic affairs and breach of diplomatic norms.

Gulshan Station of the Dhaka Metrooplition Police (DMP) organised the programme to share problems and solutions with the local community. Geeta Pasi said she was attending the function not as a diplomat but simply as a resident of Gulshan area.

Deputy Police Commissioner of DMP (Gulshan) Rezaul Alam moderated the programme, while former Adviser and former Inspector General of Police ASM Shahjahan, local Ward Commissioners Peara Mostafa, Anwar Hossain, Rabeya Alam and local residents took part at the discussion..

Shahjahan said the government had started reforms within the police force, and programmes such as Saturday's 'Open Day' were an important step as a bridge between the police and the people.

The speakers at the function discussed various problems of the area including traffic jams, pedding of drugs, vandalism of telephone cables and water crises.

The function also discussed the activities, obstacles and problems of service organisations such as the city corporation, WASA, RAJUK, Titas Gas and the Power Development Board.

Meanwhile, UNB adds: the US Embassy today said the United States supports the caretaker government to hold free, fair and credible elections at the latest by December 2008.

When the news agency asked Amy Hart Vrampas, Director, American Center to comment on the Foreign Ministry's note, the US official said," "Our position remains the same. We are here to support the Caretaker Government and we are here to support the holding of free, fair and credible elections at the latest by December 2008 as announced by the Government."

Asked about Geeta Pasi's recent meetings with political parties that apparently prompted the Government to issue the note about diplomatic norms, Vrampas said, "We're meeting with political parties all the time and we're giving the same message. Nothing is changed."