Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday hoped that the opposition political parties will join the next general election as they are now participating in city corporation elections. Hasina expressed the hope when visiting US Under Secretary on political affairs Windy R Sherman met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.PM’s deputy press secretary Bijan Lal Dev briefed reporters after the meeting. He said the Prime Minister said the next general election of the country will be held as per the Westminster system which is practiced in parliamentary democracies across the world.
In this connection, she said the opposition parties are participating in the ongoing city corporation elections. “I hope they’ll participate in the next general elections, too,” Hasina added.
The premier said the present Election Commission is independent and performing its duties without any inference from the government.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the President of the country formed the Election Commission through a search committee after holding dialogues with all political parties. “The government has ensured that the Election Commission could work independently,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said a number of 5,645 election, including by-polls and local government elections have been held in a free and fair manner under the present government. “No one complained about those elections.”
The Prime Minister said the government is committed to democracy, and will do its best to ensure that the democratic practice continues in the country.
During the meeting, they discussed garment and Savar and Rohingya issues and US-Bangladesh relationship. About the garment sector, Sheikh Hasina said her government increased the minimum age of RMG workers after it assumed power.
Hasina said the government recently formed a wage board for the garment workers which will declare new wage structures for them.
The Prime Minister said the government would amend the country’s existing labour law to accommodate the rights and welfare issues of the garment workers.
About the recent incidents in the garment sector, Sherman said her country also passed through such kind of situation in the 1900s. “We changed it through the process of transformation and I hope Bangladesh will be able to overcome the situation the similar way.”
While discussing the Rohingya issue, the US Under Secretary, said: “I hope Myanmar government will create necessary conditions for Rohingyas.”
Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina then said Bangladesh is observing the situation.
Abut the US-Bangladesh relations, Sherman said Bangladesh has been included in all the President Obama’s initiatives and expressed satisfaction over the democratic situation in Bangladesh. “We’re very glad to see democratic practices,” she added.
Ambassador at-large M Ziauddin and PM’s special assistant Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, and US Ambassador Dan W Mozena were, among others, present during the meeting.
-With The Independent input
