China urges Bangladesh political parties for dialogue

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DHAKA, Aug. 21 -- Bangladesh's ruling and opposition parties should resolve the current political stalemate through dialogues, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun said Wednesday.

"As a near neighbor and friendly country, China is very concerned about Bangladesh's political situation. We hope Bangladesh could keep peace and stability," Li told a press conference held mainly to brief the visit of Chinese navy hospital ship Peace Ark to Chittagong in the past two days.

It's the first time Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh makes public remarks on the country's political situation.

"Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have many common grounds. Both of them hope the next national election will be participated by all political parties in a transparent, free and fair manner." Li said, adding that "Their only bones of contention is how to hold the election. "

"If the two parties can hold face-to-face dialogue, it will be beneficial to all stakeholders. They should express goodwill, instead of aggressive words and deeds, to each other."

The ambassador said that the final resolution depends on Bangladeshi people. "I believe Bangladesh politician has enough wisdom to resolve the political deadlock," Li said.

Political tension in Bangladesh has heightened since December last year after BNP-led opposition alliance geared up anti- government agitation programs, demanding restoration of a non- party caretaker government system.

Since June 2011 when Bangladesh Parliament abolished the non- party caretaker government system after an apex court verdict declared the 15-year-old constitutional provision illegal, the BNP- led alliance has been waging mass protests demanding for the reinstatement of the provision.

The scrapped provision mandated an elected government to transfer power to an unelected non-partisan caretaker administration to oversee a new parliamentary election on the completion of its term.

The BNP consistently stresses that it wound not attend the next national poll slated for early 2014 unless the caretaker government be reinstated.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami league, however, repeatedly refused to meet the demand.

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