The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The visiting UN panel yesterday said that Bangladesh elected its new leadership in a "free and fair" election, but it will have to face "extremely difficult challenges of agricultural prices," in the wake of global economic meltdown.

Wrapping up a week's visit, Francesc Vendrell, head of the UN panel on Bangladesh election formed by the secretary-general at a press conference said, "At the moment, world is facing economic downturn. It is going to be extremely difficult. But I am sure they are aware of the challenges."

He brushed aside BNP secretary-general Khandker Delwar Hossain's allegation on the observers' partisanship and said the ninth parliamentary polls were "free and fair."

Even, if some election-related complaints made by the BNP might be "valid" in some constituencies, those might not have changed the results, he said adding, the Awami League and the BNP should show "restraints" for the sake of the nation.

Vendrell termed the non-party caretaker government system "unique" adding, "it could be copied by other countries."

He said unlike in the past, minority voters could cast their votes in this election without intimidation.

Vendrel, who had a long meeting earlier with Prime Minister-in-waiting Sheikh Hasina, said they discussed various issues including how to make the next parliament effective, trial of war criminals and Bangladesh-UN cooperation through UNDP.

About trying war criminals he said it would be up to the new government to take up the matter with the UN secretary general and make clear what they want the UN to do. "We will look into it with very care," he added.

The UN panel chief said he found Sheikh Hasina willing to reaching out the opposition by offering the post of the Deputy Speaker and some chairmanships of the parliamentary standing committees.

"She looks forward to working with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the next parliament," he said, adding despite frustration and disappointment in BNP, there is ample scope for the opposition to play their constructive role in influencing the debate and making their voice heard in parliament.

Vendrel, former UN Assistant Secretary General, does not consider that a parliament with small opposition against a huge majority cannot be effective. He said the number of the opposition in present German parliament is small while in 1993 the Canadian House of Commons had only two opposition MPs.

However, he suggested cooperation between winners and losers, saying there should not be any feeling that may lead to conflicts. "We encourage Awami League to extend their hands of friendship to the opposition," Vendrel said.

Asked about the post-election violence, he said it is important that the law enforcers ensure peace and tranquillity.

The 3-member UN high-level panel was dispatched twice by UN secretary general Ban ki-Moon to assess the pre-election, polling day and the post-election situation.

Two other members of the panel are Bhojraj Pokharel, chief election commissioner of Nepal, and Ms Aracelly Santana, former deputy director of the UN electoral assistance division.