Bangladeshi-born British parliamentarian Rushanara Ali said on Friday that the UK wants to see free, fair and transparent elections in Bangladesh with participation of all parties. “We all want to see peace and stability, we want to see that all parties play their part in making sure that there are free and fair elections,” said the British MP while addressinga press conference at a local hotel on Friday. She was accompanied by another British MP Shabana Mahmood, elected from Birmingham Ladywood. She pointed out that the ongoing political impasse, centering over holding the election method, should be resolved internally. “About the question of the process, it’s a matter for your country, a matter for political parties,” she added.
She also pointed out that there was a lot of dialogue between diplomats, government and the opposition parties trying to facilitate the election system. But the responsibility lies with the leaderships across the parties. “Solutions of Bangladesh’s political conflicts lie with the people of the country as well as with the political leaders,” she added.
“We have raised the issue, the need for efforts to ensure free and fair elections, to the prime minister, and I know that will be the spirit in which we will reflect our message to the opposition leaders also,” she added.
When asked about UK policy regarding restriction on student visas, she pointed out that genuine students should always be welcomed for higher education in the UK.
Six MPs of the Britain-Bangladesh All Parliamentary Group is visiting Bangladesh to enquire the prevailing situation in garment sector following the recent building collapse in Savar. They will report back to the UK parliament.
They met the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday and scheduled to meet the leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia on Saturday.
The delegation of MPs includes Anne Main, Simon Danzcuk, Nick de Bois and Jonathan Reynolds. They will also meet different stakeholders before leaving Dhaka on Wednesday
Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, Shabana Mahmood said: “In the meeting with the Prime Minister, we highlighted the need for Bangladesh to work for peace and stability and that in the run up to the general election, it is vital that dialogue between all political parties is kept open in order to ensure free and fair elections.”
In the meeting with the Prime Minister, Rushanara Ali spoke about the garments industry, an urgent case of her constituent regarding Ms Rehena Begum as well as the campaign she has been leading on remittances following the British Barclays Bank decision to withdraw banking facilities to small and medium size UK money transfer agencies, sources said, will increase the cost of sending money for Bangladeshis living in UK to their family members in Bangladesh.
-With The Independent input
