Canadian envoy meets Fakhrul
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls yesterday held a closed-door meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues relating to Bangladesh's upcoming national election and human rights situation.
The meeting went on for around one and a half hours at the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office.
After the meeting, BNP's standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told journalists that the two had a fruitful discussion in which they talked about all issues relating to Bangladesh's current situation, especially in terms of human rights, elections, law and security.
He said Canada on multiple occasions has told the Bangladesh government that human rights are being violated in Bangladesh.
Asked what the Canadian envoy said about the upcoming national election, Khosru said he cannot elaborate on the discussion. "We have discussed all the issues relating to Bangladesh's current political situation."
He said BNP has no reason to go to the next polls under the current government and they are determined on this stance.
He said a caretaker government must be established ousting the current government for ensuring a credible election, where people will be able to freely exercise their voting rights.
"We are least bothered about what Awami League, the Election Commission and others say about the polls," he added.
Khosru said Bangladesh and Canada have long been maintaining diversified relations.
He mentioned that Bangladesh exports goods worth around $2 billion to Canada as the country gave Bangladesh duty-free market access for most goods in 2003.
"This facility was given during the BNP government and as the then commerce minister, I negotiated it with Canada."
BNP's International Affairs Secretary Shama Obayed was also present at the meeting.
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