Staff Correspondent

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday and discussed various issues related to the upcoming national election and the prevailing political situation in the country.

The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, began around 10:30am at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were also present during the meeting.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Dr Moyeen Khan said detailed discussions were held on various issues, including the overall political situation in Bangladesh, the outcome of the discussions held in London on June 13 between Chief Advisor Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, the subsequent reaction and situation, the existing bilateral relations between the two countries and further areas of cooperation.

He said there was a long discussion on Bangladesh’s relations with its neighbouring countries, considering its geographical location.

Moyeen Khan said they discussed the upcoming elections, and the British High Commissioner stressed the UK’s desire for a free and fair vote in Bangladesh.

The BNP leader said there is a festive atmosphere among the people of Bangladesh who could not vote in a credible election for the past 17 years.

Moyeen Khan said people are in a state of excitement following the outcome of the London meeting, and they are eagerly waiting to exercise their right to voting and elect their representatives in a credible election.

He said discussions were held on how the UK's relationship with Bangladesh can be further strengthened in various fields such as education, health, trade and commerce, when a democratic environment is created under an elected government in the future.

Referring to the June 13 London meeting, the BNP leader said there has been a qualitative change in the political situation in Bangladesh. “To make this change sustainable, democracy must be restored and democratic institutions must be strengthened.”

He said they also discussed the instability in the Middle East, especially the ongoing conflict and war between Israel and Iran, as well as overall global instability.

“We want peace in the world. As a liberal democratic party, the BNP pursues a policy of not being hostile to any individual or any country,” Dr Moyeen said.