Fakhrul had requested the UN to mediate between bickering political parties ahead of the general election and to send election observers. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca rejected both requests, a diplomatic source said. Fakhrul met the UN official in New York last week amid rising political tensions in Bangladesh as the country rushes towards its 11th general election scheduled for December. A source said Fakhrul told Jenca that the BNP was ready to participate in the election but requested Jenca to send a representative for mediation. Before the 2014 election, then UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernández-Taranco, had come to Bangladesh at the invitation of the government for mediation.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 18, 2018 14:26 UTC