"Violence we see is on television and we are concerned about it. We would urge everybody to make sure that this violence stops as it does not help much," Dr Stefan Frowein, ambassador and head of delegation of the EC in Bangladesh, told reporters after attending a meeting with the foreign investors in the country.

Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) organized the monthly luncheon meeting at Radisson Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka where Frowein attended the meeting as the guest of honour.

Mentioning that a peaceful solution is foreseen in the constitution, the EC head in Bangladesh said, "I think you should go that way. It is not for us to comment on caretaker government system. It is unique in Bangladesh. You must apply it and find solution that way."

"We would urge everybody and parties to be as peaceful as possible," he said. "We are closely following the situation and we keep saying that free and fair elections have to be organised."

Speaking at the meeting, Masih Ul Karim, president of FICCI said, "At the backdrop of political conflicts prevailing in the country at the moment we urge upon all political parties to come to a consensus about appointment of the Chief of the caretaker government and create an environment to hold the elections peacefully."

Otherwise, foreign investors would further be frustrated and foreign direct investment would shy away, he said adding ongoing situation is damaging to Bangladesh's image abroad.

Foreign investors would think ten times before coming to Bangladesh, he added.

About the experience of foreign investors who are already in Bangladesh, Karim said in this pre-election period, it is currently in fashion in the country to criticise foreign investment and this is doing a long lasting damage.

The criticism of good foreign investors in Bangladesh -- whether they be in mobile telephones, banking, coal, steel or other -- are now widely on record, he said adding a rush to find ways to penalise foreign investors is also now a matter of record.