Amid the ongoing dialogue between two major political parties ahead of the crucial national election, British Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Baroness Warsi arrives here on Thursday to discuss polls issues with political leaders.
During her short stay here, the UK Minister will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP leader Khaleda Zia, and discuss the challenges facing Bangladesh in the run-up to the elections scheduled for next month, said a media release issued by British High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday night.
Warsi will also exchange views on bilateral and international issues on the same day, said the media note.
She will also meet the press on Thursday afternoon before wrapping up her visit, officials said.
Meanwhile, the UK government has expressed concerns at the recent violence and arrests of senior politicians and party officials in a fellow Commonwealth country, with the subject raised in the Houses of Parliament and closely followed by the 500,000 people of Bangladeshi origin living in the UK, according to the media release.
The British Minister had been in Dhaka on February 18-20 last and had talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia and former Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on the election issue.
During her stay here, Warsi had said most things could be solved through a democratic process and mentioned that there is a need for all political parties to be part of the election process because it is important.
She also mentioned that Bangladesh has an opportunity in the next election to display that real democratic maturity by showing that they can hold an election which is free, fair and inclusive.
She was appointed the UK’s Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on September 4, 2012.
Her foreign policy responsibilities cover Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, human rights, the International Criminal Court, the UN and other international organisations.
Source: UNB Connect
