DHAKA: Diplomats called for an end to the violent unrest in Bangladesh as tensions rose further on Wednesday when opposition leader Khaleda Zia again failed to appear at a corruption trial despite facing the threat of arrest.

Mission heads from nine countries, including the United States and several European countries, met Zia at her office late on Tuesday where the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader has been holed up since early January.

“Recalling previous statements on recent events in Bangladesh, and those by the United Nations, we called for an end to Bangladesh’s continuing violence, “Australian High Commissioner Greg Wilcock said, reading out a statement on behalf of the diplomats.

He said the envoys, who also met Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali on Sunday, wanted to see “confidence-building measures, including de-escalation of Bangladesh’s political conflict”.

The unrest began at the beginning of the year when two-time former leader Zia called her supporters to try to enforce a nationwide transport blockade in an effort to topple current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and pave the way for new polls.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2015

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