The United Nations has stressed the need for all sides to engage in dialogue and asked the Bangladesh authorities concerned to allow for freedom of expression, for freedom of assembly and freedom of the media.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said this in response to a question at the daily press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on March 18.

“Well, we’ve discussed this a few times in recent days, and you’re aware of what Stéphane (Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary General) and I have said about the United Nations’ concerns and its efforts concerning Bangladesh,” Farhan said while asked about “disappearance” of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed.

He said he does not have anything new to add on the issue on that day. “…. but the concerns that you were mentioning are in line with what we’ve been talking about, and the need for all sides to engage in dialogue and for the authorities to allow for freedom of expression, for freedom of assembly and freedom of the media,” he said. 

“And so we’re continuing to hold the authorities to those points and, of course, we would be concerned about any breaches of that,” the deputy spokesman added.