Dhaka: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has had a closed-door meeting with European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley and discussed various issues relating to the next general election and politics.
The hour-long meeting that began at around 3pm on Tuesday was held at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Fakhrul said they talked about Bangladesh’s current political situation as well as the BNP’s plans, programs and actions.
“We clearly told [the EU envoy] that it is not possible to hold a fair election under any government other than a neutral non-partisan one in Bangladesh in view of the current situation of the country,” he said.
About the reason behind the meeting, Fakhrul said an expert team from the European Union will come to Bangladesh next week to hold talks with various political parties and civil society members. “We discussed in advance that meeting of the EU expert team.”
He said the EU has long been saying that it wants a free, fair, acceptable and participatory election in Bangladesh. “Their team will come here to see whether there is a chance of a fair and free election in Bangladesh.”
When asked if there is a possibility of dialogue between the ruling and the opposition parties about the next election through the mediation of the international community, the BNP leader declined to make any comment. “We did not discuss such a thing in our meeting.”
Fakhrul said the EU envoy wanted to know whether there is now an election atmosphere in Bangladesh and whether an acceptable election is possible under the current government.
BNP Human Rights Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Asad and two other EU officials also attended the meeting.
