Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the government wants the next general elections be held in a free and fair manner—with all political parties participating.
She made the statement when UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt called on her, in the bilateral meeting room, at the UN headquarters, in New York, on Monday morning.
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque briefed reporters after the meeting, reports BSS.
Jeremy Hunt said the UK is looking forward to a free, fair, and participatory election in Bangladesh.
In response, the prime minister said: “We also want the next election to be free and fair and all [political] parties to join it.”
The UK secretary of foreign affairs wanted to learn, from the prime minister, about the repatriation process of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people.
In response, the premier said Bangladesh has signed an agreement with Myanmar to this end.
“Myanmar has agreed to take back their nationals from Bangladesh, but they have not acted accordingly,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the Rohingyas will return back to their homeland “if we can create a conducive environment and give assurances to them for their safe and dignified repatriation to their homeland. But that is not happening.”
Sheikh Hasina also sought everyone’s support for the Rohingyas to be moved to an island called Bhashan Char.
Jeremy Hunt expressed his desire to visit Bangladesh soon.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and prime minister’s Principal Secretary Md Najibur Rahman were present at the occasion.
Earlier, the prime minister attended a high-level event, the, “Global Call to Action on World Drug Problem,” organized by the Permanent Mission of the United States.
US President Donald J Trump was present on the occasion, among other world leaders, the foreign secretary said.