British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, met with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday to discuss several crucial bilateral issues, including trade, investment, and the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh.
The meeting, held at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, was attended by BNP standing committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, along with BNP leaders Shama Obaid and Tabith Awal. The discussions focused on the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the UK, particularly in terms of trade, business, and investment opportunities.
One of the significant issues brought up during the discussions was the large sums of money laundered from Bangladesh to the UK. Amir Khosru noted that the UK’s role and cooperation in repatriating these funds were critically examined, with the UK assuring overall cooperation in this matter.
The conversation also turned towards the political landscape in Bangladesh, especially the forthcoming general elections. “They (UK) were interested in understanding the feasibility of having an elected and accountable government through fair elections soon,” Amir Khosru told reporters after the meeting.
Moreover, the BNP leaders highlighted the recent student-led movements, the alleged torture and harassment of BNP leaders and activists over the past 15-16 years, and the politically motivated cases filed against them. The issue of ensuring justice and fair trials in the country was also discussed.
The UK High Commission, in a social media post following the meeting, stated, “British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke met with senior BNP leaders to discuss national reconciliation and charting a peaceful pathway to an inclusive, prosperous, and democratic future for the Bangladeshi people.” This indicates a keen interest by the UK in supporting Bangladesh’s journey towards stability and democracy.