United States Ambassador Dan Mozena and Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran have separately met with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and discussed the country’s political situation, especially the national election scheduled to be held in January. Ambassador Mozena said the declaration of polls schedule has made it even more imperative for the major political parties to hold talks to find a way for holing free, fair and credible election.
On the other hand, Indian High Commissioner Saran said Bangladeshi people would decide on the future of Bangladesh and that he had confidence in the wisdom of the people.
“I don’t know whether the Chief Election Commissioner will be doing that or not. Regardless, I think that these developments make it even more urgent that the major parties engage in constructive dialogue to find a way forward to hold free, fair and credible elections,” Mozena told reporters after the meeting when asked about the possibility of the declaration of the polls schedule on Monday morning.
When reminded that the word ‘inclusive’ was missing something he used to use before alongside free, fair and credible, Mozena said, “I don’t know when I said inclusive, but may be at some point. But to me free, fair, credible. That’s the standard. Credible as defined by the people of Bangladesh.”
He said, “We had a very good discussion on Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal’s visit here. “I briefed the new minister on that visit. I shared with the Minister the Assistant Secretary’s message relating to political situation…,” said the envoy.
On Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement, he said that it would be signed in Washington at 9:15 pm (Bangladesh time).
Describing it as a very simple agreement, Mozena said that it would establish a bilateral forum to identify and overcome the obstacles to increasing bilateral trade and investment.
After the meeting, there would be short meeting of the forum to introduce the issues, he said, adding that both sides might set up a working group.
Indian High Commissioner met the Foreign Minister after Mozena.
Emerging from the meeting, Saran told reporters that he had briefed the Foreign Minister on the current state of the relations between Bangladesh and India “I assured him that as a high commissioner I will work with him and his team to take this relationship forward,” he added.
About the political situation, especially the upcoming polls, Saran said, “On the internal situation in Bangladesh, our approach has always been, and I conveyed this to the Foreign Minister, that it is for the people of Bangladesh to decide on the course of their future. And, we are confident in the wisdom of the people of Bangladesh.”
“As a neighbour and a well-wisher of people of Bangladesh, we hope that in the coming weeks and in the run up to the elections the democratic institutions and democratic processes will be strengthened. That is what I conveyed to him,” he said.
About his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana on Sunday night, the Indian envoy declined to comment on the issues discussed between them. “I would not like to comment on that because we do not normally comment on individual meetings,” he said.
-With The Independent input
