Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday requested the Commonwealth to send diversified election observers from different member countries for the upcoming general election in Bangladesh.
She made the request while the Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland called on the visiting prime minister at the Claridge Hotel in London.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed the reporters after the call on.
He said that the prime minister raised the issue of election and made the request for diversified election observers from various Commonwealth countries.
In reply, Patricia Scotland said that the Commonwealth is ready to help Bangladesh in holding the election, according to Momen.
She said that in many Commonwealth countries they made the same arrangement where all political parties express their commitment that they will participate in the election, and what they want for making the polls fair.
“If they do not win in the election, they must accept it,” Momen quoted her as saying.
She also said that the political parties will pledge that they will not go for violence.
“All political parties will express their commitment for free and fair election,” she said.
Momen said that Bangladesh government also wants that.
“All political parties will make their political commitment,” he added.
The Commonwealth secretary general said that the political parties will make their public commitment where they will say that they will participate in the election, will do everything for ensuring fair and non-violent election.
“They want to help us,” Momen said adding, “We said of course."
PM Hasina requested them to impart training to the Election Commission officers in the district level like they did in the past.
Sheikh Hasina asked them to hold meetings with the Election Commission as it is now independent.
The prime minister informed the Commonwealth that her government has taken a number of steps to strengthen the Election Commission and ensured voting rights in the country.
She mentioned that apart from ruling Awami League all other major political parties of the country originated from the cantonment, after grabbing state power illegally.
“Awami League is the only political party that belongs to the people and has always upheld the country’s democratic process,” she said.
PM’s speechwriter M Nazrul Islam and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem were also present in the briefing.
Apart from the election, artificial intelligence, climate, mental health and digital connectivity were prominently discussed in the meeting, Momen said.
The premier has expressed her desire that Bangladesh wanted to lead artificial intelligence committee of Commonwealth from June next as the country is now leading the Commonwealth’s business to business event, he said.
He went on saying that the Commonwealth secretary general has agreed to the matter.
Blair offers help to attract investment
Former UK prime minister Tony Blair has highly praised Bangladesh’s tremendous economic advancement under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Paying a courtesy call on the Bangladesh prime minister at the Claridge's hotel on Sunday, he also expressed his desire to help Bangladesh for further development in various sectors.
Foreign Minister Ak Abdul Momen briefed reporters afterwards.
“The former UK prime minister has highly admired Bangladesh’s development and wanted to help Bangladesh in its further development,“ he said.
The prime minister told Blair that Bangladesh needs more foreign investment to generate more employment, according to Momen.
Tony Blair said he has good relations with the Middle East countries, particularly the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and he can help Bangladesh to increase business connectivity.
Blair, also head of the Tony Blair Institution for Global Change, was quoted as saying, “The current economy of Bangladesh is very attractive and Bangladesh is doing very well economically.”
Momen said the ex-prime minister of the UK expressed his happiness over the bilateral relations between the UK and Bangladesh, saying, “The UK and Bangladesh relationship is very excellent.”
Blair also greeted the Bangladesh prime minister for coming to attend the coronation of King Charles III.
Authorities concerned from the Tony Blair Institution for Global Change will visit Bangladesh and sit with BIDA to identify the sectors for which Bangladesh needs help in development.
PM’s speech-writer M Nazrul Islam and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem, among others, were present at the briefing.
