BNP suffers another jolt in diplomacy:Daily Sun

 BNP failed in its bid to use the European Parliament for putting pressure on the Awami League-led government to arrange a midterm election. Meanwhile, political experts think that it is a big diplomatic blow to the opposition party. BNP leaders who were dealing with its diplomatic issues were moved by the statement of Jean Lambert, member of the European Parliament and chairperson of the delegati
on for relations with South Asia, bangla-news24.com reports. Lambert said that the European Parliament is not calling for new elections in Bangladesh, but is encouraging all political parties to find a solution for making the next election inclusive whenever it takes place. The EP delegates made the comment at a time when BNP is trying to use foreign friends and organisations to insist on creating an atmosphere for a midterm election. BNP high-command sees the comment as a big diplomatic blow to the party. Some policymakers of the party, however, are pretending that nothing has happened. Meanwhile, BNP acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, chairperson�s advisers Dr M Osman Faruk, Sabih Uddin Ahmed and Riaz Rahman talked about it to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office on Wednesday night. Shamsher Mobin said the time of the next election will be determined by the people of Bangladesh. The EP will not hold election of Bangladesh. They can express their opinion as to the procedure and format of the polls. Bangladesh became a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. All these things happened during the regime of Awami League. It was the first diplomatic blow to BNP. Besides, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmeen Chowdhury was elected chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury elected member of Inter-Parliamentary Union. After Awami League assumed power through the January 5 polls, BNP tried to launch a campaign in the international arena. BNP appears to fail in the campaign following the achievement of several international posts by the country and the statement of the EP delegates. Sources said Shamsher Mobin and Riaz Rahman held a meeting with US Ambassador DW Mozena at Hotel Westin on Thursday. But they declined to disclose the agenda of the meeting. Mirza Fakhrul has been claiming that the USA, the UK, the EU and other democratic powers of the world rejected the January 5 polls. These countries want a midterm polls as soon as possible. But the statement of the EP and other diplomatic success of the present government proved this claim false. When contacted over phone, Mirza Fakhrul didn�t receive the call.