UN working with govt, parties to protect lives

GBNEWS24DESK//

The UN is working with the government and political parties to protect lives as there are concerns over political violence that killed and injured people in the last few months.

“I’m talking to each of the political parties about how things can be done in a safe way … I’m talking to the Ministry of Home Affairs and with various security forces to try and protect lives,” said UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis yesterday.

She was speaking at the flagship DCAB Talk organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB), at the Jatiya Press Club.

Her comments come as the political arena is heating up ahead of the national polls, with the international community keeping a close watch.

Protests and rallies are parts of democracy and they should be respected, Lewis said, adding that political parties should find avenues of dialogue among them.

Asked if the UN would do anything for a free and fair election, she said it is not for her or the UN to make decision or engage in the process of Bangladesh’s election. It is the decision of the government.

She said the UN here has no mandate to engage in election unless it gets a specific request from the UN Security Council or General Assembly or the country.

Lewis said the world is facing the perfect storm: the war in Ukraine, food and fuel price crisis, climate change and increasing polarisation, and every country is facing challenges.

“As a result, the SDGs are unfortunately going into reverse, and there for joint and coordinated efforts will be needed to make a change.”

She said Bangladesh is a major victim of climate change, but the fact that enough funding is not being mobilised for the affected countries is frustrating.

“Unfortunately, climate talks have been bogged down in politics and economic pressures,” Lewis said.

She said before Bangladesh was hit by coronavirus, the country had been advancing at a pace to qualify for graduation.

Lewis added that although the pandemic has been disruptive, the economy remained on a positive track, but the current food and fuel crisis generated by the war is also creating pressures and uncertainty, including for the markets for Bangladeshi goods overseas.