China for talks towards free, inclusive polls

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun calls on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office in the capital last evening. She went to the office for the first time in two weeks after being virtually confined to her residence by the government since December 29. Photo: Banglar Chokh

China wants to see a fruitful dialogue between the major political parties in Bangladesh for holding free, fair and inclusive polls to resolve the political stalemate.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun said this when he called on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office last night.
At the meeting, the Chinese envoy said the recently held [January 5] general election in Bangladesh was poorly participated, BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star.
The polls “could not fulfill people's expectations and the elections were not legitimate as people rejected it”, Mahbubur quoted the diplomat as saying.
Khaleda told the envoy that her party's relations with the Jamaat-e-Islami are nothing permanent, but strategic. “In course of time, that relations might be cut off,” the former army chief said quoting Khaleda.  
The Asian superpower also expressed concern, especially over the sovereignty of Bangladesh and its security due to the present political unrest, said meeting sources.
Li Jun further said instability might hit Bangladesh if democracy is hindered. And in that case, the country might be into an economic and social crisis.
“We want to see a sovereign and independent Bangladesh. We want betterment of Bangladesh in terms of political, social and economic progress,” Mahbubur Rahman quoted the Chinese envoy as saying.  
There was no official briefing to media following the 45-minute long meeting.