Acting High Commissioner of Australia in Dhaka, Nardia Simpson, on Wednesday met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues related to bilateral interests and Bangladesh’s next national election.
The hour-long meeting, which began around 12:30pm, was held at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and the party chairperson’s International Relations Affairs Committee member Shama Obed were present.
Later, talking to reporters, Khosru said the discussions at the meeting focused on bilateral matters, including business, trade, investment, and different exchange programmes and assistance.
Besides, he said they also discussed the current situation in Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, the performance of the present interim government, and Bangladesh’s upcoming election.
“What we are thinking after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and how the interim government is performing and how its first month was, what our expectation for the coming days is, what Bangladesh’s expectations are, and other issues were discussed,” said Amir Khosru.
The meeting also discussed the issues related to Rohingya and Bangladeshi students who are pursuing study in Australia, he said.
“Bangladesh election was discussed. They (Australia) wanted to know what time it would take for (the arrangement of) the election, also what changes are needed to reform the electoral system... how they are progressing,” he said.
Following the overall discussion, they (Australia) think that by solving these problems as soon as possible, power will be transferred to a democratic government through a free and fair election in Bangladesh in the future, said the BNP leader.
