BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at a meeting with an EU delegation on Sunday night said her party is ready to sit with the government anytime to reach a consensus for holding an inclusive fresh national election.
Khaleda came up with the remark when EU team leader Ugo Astuto, EU Director for South and South East Asia, wanted to know whether her party is ready to sit with the government.
“BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has clearly told the EU delegation that BNP is ready to sit with the government anytime to reach an understanding over holding an election with participation of all parties. It’s also the expectation of the people of Bangladesh,” said BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury.
He briefed reporters after nearly the hour-long meeting that began around 8pm between Khaleda and the three-member EU delegation at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Mobin said various issues relating to bilateral interests of the two countries were discussed at the meeting.
He said the BNP chairperson told the delegation that the areas on which EU works all over the world, including the rule of law and democratic governance system and human rights which, all are currently missing in Bangladesh.
“There’s no democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Bangladesh,” Mobin quoted Khaleda as telling the EU team.
In response, the delegation said the EU has already expressed its concern over the prevailing situation in Bangladesh.
Khaleda, also a former Prime Ministers, said the current government is not representative one.
She voiced concern that Bangladesh’s economy and trade will seriously be affected if political stability is not immediately restored in the country.
Khaleda also told the delegation that BNP has long been maintaining a good relation with the EU and wants to continue it in the days to come.
The delegation, however, did not talk to the media.
Shamsher Mobin, BNP chairperson’s advisers Reaz Rahman, Sabihuddin and EU Ambassador to Bangladesh William Hanna were present at the meeting.
Source: UNBconnect
