"Now our mission in New Delhi works for Bangladesh affairs and the government will try to open an office in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, after the election, as good friendship has been established among us through deployment of Bangladeshi troops as UN peacekeepers", Henri Honan Bedei, former president of Ivory Coast told the Bangladesh delegation yesterday.

The delegation, comprising military officers and media persons and led by Brigadier General M Rafiqul Islam, called on Bedei at his luxurious palace in his village at Daoukro.

Bedei became the president and ruled the country from 1993 to 1999 without much disturbance. But in late 1999, he was overthrown in a bloodless military coup and fled to France. The general, who came to power, was killed in another coup.

Bedei returned home two years back and is now taking preparation to contest in the next election from his Democratic Party of Ivory Coast.

Appreciating the role of Bangladeshi forces, he said, "As part of impartial troops deployed by the United Nations, they (Bangladeshi forces) are doing better and we have good relations with them."

"Our business is fully private sector-oriented. If the business community desires, they can go ahead for establishing trade relations," he said to while replying to a question.

Highlighting his development works while he was in power, Bedei said inspiring the farmers to work and sending children to schools would get priority if he is elected.