<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The United Nations wants to see a full investigation into the arson attack on a moving train recently that claimed four lives, including a mother and her child.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">"I think it is incumbent on the authorities in Bangladesh to fully investigate the source and to bring those responsible to justice," Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, told reporters in a regular briefing in New York on December 21.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The UN extended its condolences to all victims of the arson attack.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh’s foreign ministry yesterday said that in the Mohanganj Express derailment incident, the local administration, police, and fire departments responded "swiftly" to the derailment caused by the removed rail tracks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two suspects have been apprehended, linked to the sabotage, said the government.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Investigations suggest that this act was premeditated, with meetings held to plan this deadly act. This sabotage is a direct attack on the state and its people, aiming to disrupt the upcoming election and the nation's progress," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Responding to a question, Stéphane Dujarric also said they call for "free and fair" elections in Bangladesh where people can vote without any sort of intimidation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Obviously, we may have things to say after the elections, but our position remains unchanged," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the government and people of Bangladesh "stand firmly" against terrorism and acts of violence as the election draws near.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"They are determined to uphold peace and continue the country's socio-economic development, despite these challenges," said the MoFA on Thursday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, MoFA Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin in a weekly briefing on Thursday afternoon said nine countries have confirmed to observe the 12th national parliamentary election scheduled for January 7.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">India, Japan, Sri Lanka, China, Russia, Japan, Uzbekistan, Mauritius, Georgia and Palestine are sending observers, she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">OIC, Commonwealth and Arab Parliament will also observe the elections, she mentioned.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A four-member EU expert panel is already in Dhaka to observe the election.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A diplomatic source told UNB that NDI-IRI small team will also observe the polls.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After failing to gain popular and political support, a faction of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their allies have intensified their efforts to enforce a blockade, aiming to create significant impediments to the upcoming election, the foreign ministry said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This strategic move by the BNP has led to a disturbing increase in vandalism and arson attacks across the country, according to the ministry.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Their supporters have engaged in these destructive acts to instill panic and exert undue pressure on the government to concede to their controversial demands, the foreign ministry said. AP/UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>