UK visit successful, says PM

British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to move forward in improving the relations with Bangladesh, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Her remarks came on Saturday while responding to a query at Ganabhaban during her media briefing on her recent UK visit.
 
The prime minister returned on Thursday after a three-day visit to the United Kingdom.
 
She was in London to attend the Girl Summit 2014 and hold a meeting with her British counterpart David Cameron.
 
They met at the British prime minister’s 10 Downing Street office on Tuesday.
 
She said during the meeting Cameron spoke of moving forward. "We want to look at the future and continue working as a development partner."
 
Journalists asked her reaction on the BNP's claim that Cameron had expressed disappointment over the Jan 5 national election during that meeting.
 
"Some uncontested elections were discussed. Any matter can come up during a discussion. But they (BNP) are not talking about what he (Cameron) said later."
 
Earlier during Saturday's briefing, Hasina claimed bilateral relations between Bangladesh and United Kingdom reached a new peak after her visit to London.
 
She said, "I think this visit has been successful and fruitful for Bangladesh's socio-economic development. This will take our relations to a new level."
 
"Our government's goal is to permanently strengthen the relations with all powers. Our government is working to develop bilateral relations with different countries more effectively than ever before," she added.

'No collaboration with Jamaat'

The prime minister Saturday brushed off allegations of  'collaboration' with Jamaat-e-Islami, the key ally of BNP, regarding the war crimes trials.

"My party does not do this kind of politics."

One of the reporters pointed to allegations that the war crimes trials have hit a wall because of an 'alliance between the government and Jamaat'.

Hasina's response:  "We are not into that kind of politics. Awami League works for the country's interest."

"What can Jamaat offer?" she asked.

"Has anyone been able to put Jamaat on the dock? If anyone can, that's me."
 
The visit to the UK was Hasina's first after she took office for the second consecutive term.
 
During the meeting with her, the British prime minister had assured Bangladesh of the UK’s continued support and praised the country’s socioeconomic development and the development of women.
 
He had also expressed his desire to visit the country to witness this success for himself.
 
Hasina at the Girl Summit had portrayed Bangladesh’s success in reducing early child marriages and development of women in different sectors.
 
She also met the UK minister of state for international development and Unicef executive director on the sidelines of the summit.