British minister hopes for inclusive polls

British Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad has reiterated the UK's hope that the next parliamentary elections in Bangladesh would be free, fair and inclusive.

His message to Bangladeshi political parties was: “Number one, please participate and secondly let's have a free, fair and transparent election, because those are foundations for ensuring sustainable democracy for the long term.”

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Minister for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, left Bangladesh yesterday following a two-day visit, said a British High Commission press release.