Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Monday discussed the country’s current political situation and the upcoming elections with US Ambassador Dan Mozena and Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran in separate meetings.
The US ambassador, after the meeting said declaration of election schedule made it more urgent for holding constructive dialogue.
Asked why the diplomats were not using “inclusive election” in their rhetoric anymore, he said: “I don’t know when I said inclusive, but may be at some point. But to me free, fair, and credible, that’s the standard.”
About the US Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswal’s Dhaka visit, Mozena said she gave three messages.
“One point was violence is not acceptable. Secondly, every political party has the right to have space to freely, peacefully express its views.”
In her third message, the assistant secretary underscored the major parties to engage in a constructive dialogue to find a way forward to hold free, fair, credible elections and credible in the eyes of the people of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the Indian envoy Saran said it was up to the people of Bangladesh to decide the course of their future.
“We hope that in the coming weeks and in the run up to the elections the democratic institutions and democratic processes will be strengthened.”
About his meeting with the Prime Minister’s sister Sheikh Rehanaon Sunday evening, he said: “I do not normally comment on individual meetings.”
The Indian High Commissioner, however, on November 16 after a meeting with Prime Minister’s son SajeebWazed Joy said they had discussed forthcoming elections and Joy had updated him about the situation in Bangladesh.
