Bangladesh will miss out on an opportunity to hold a free and fair election if it cannot ensure the opposition's participation, Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan said yesterday.
"In Bangladesh, there is obviously room for dialogue among the political parties. Unfortunately, that is not taking place."
Stressing that the parties need to sit down and address their differences, he said, "Sometimes, you don't get what you want but maybe you [the parties] can meet halfway…"
Turan was speaking at a "Meet the Ambassador" event, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bangladesh, at a city hotel yesterday.
Zillur Rahman, executive director of CGS, moderated the event, which was attended by politicians, civil society groups and former diplomats.
The remarks come as the political parties are gearing up for the next election with the international community closely watching.
Turan said there must be willingness to make the election a participatory one for the benefit of the country, adding that he believes the government and the Election Commission are trying their best to ensure the participation of the opposition.
He said both the government and the opposition parties have the responsibility to hold free and fair polls, and flourish the country's democracy. "Though the main responsibility lies with the government".
He added, "I hope the opposition and the ruling parties, all participate in the upcoming election. Bangladesh will be much stronger if that happens."
The diplomat made it clear that it is up to Bangladesh whether or not to accept foreign election observers.
He emphasised that polls observation by the parties themselves is the best way to ensure a free and fair election.
They can stay at the polling centres from the beginning till the vote count and check if there are irregularities – a regular practice in Türkiye, he added.
"The opposition can play a big role in this regard. [But] For that, it needs to participate in the election."
The ambassador also spoke about various aspects of the relations between the two countries, which have been flourishing in the recent years, despite earlier issues over war criminals' capital punishment.
Turan said the annual trade between Bangladesh-Türkiye is now close to $1.5 billion, and would likely exceed the $2 billion-mark next year.
Defence cooperation has also deepened, with Türkiye supplying multi-launcher rocket systems, armoured personnel carriers and drones to Bangladesh.
Türkiye also signed an agreement with the Bangladesh Ordinance Factory for the joint production of artillery shells, and expressed interest in the joint manufacturing of patrol vessels for the Bangladesh Navy and Coastguard.
Turan said Bangladesh and Türkiye shared a similar foreign policy – striking balance between the powers and maintaining peace.
Türkiye, a NATO member country, will provide political support to Bangladesh in addressing the Rohingya crisis on global platforms, and take the relationship to a strategic level, he added.
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