M Humayun Kabir: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government wants to hold the next general elections in a free and fair manner with the participations of all political parties.
The prime minister made the remarks during meeting with UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt in the bilateral meeting room at the UN headquarters yesterday morning, reports The Daily Star.
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque briefed the reporters after the meeting.
During meeting, Jeremy Hunt said the UK is looking forward to free, fair and participatory elections in Bangladesh.
“We also want the next election to be free and fair and all (political) parties to join it,” the premier replied.
When UK secretary of foreign affairs wanted to know from the prime minister about the repatriation process of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people, the premier said, “Myanmar has agreed to take back their nationals from Bangladesh, but they don’t act accordingly.”
Sheikh Hasina also said the Rohingyas will return back to their homeland “if we can create a conducive environment and give assurance to them of their safe and dignified repatriation to their homeland. But that is not happening.”
In this regard, the prime minister sought support of all to shift the Rohingyas to an island called Bhashan Char.
UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs expressed his desire to visit Bangladesh soon.
Earlier, the prime minister attended a High-level Event on Global Call to Action on World Drug Problem organized by the Permanent Mission of the United States.
US President Donald J Trump was present on the occasion, among other world leaders, the foreign secretary said.
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