Khaleda seeks US help to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh

Khaleda Zia has sought ‘continued cooperation’ of the United States to strengthen democratic process in Bangladesh and her South Asian neighbours.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Nov 2014, 06:15 PM
Updated : 28 Nov 2014, 06:45 PM

The BNP chief solicited the support in her meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal in Dhaka on Friday.

Biswal, who is on her second trip here in a year, drove to Khaleda’s house in Gulshan around 6pm and left the premises around 7:15pm.

BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, who attended the meeting, said issues including political and human rights situations in Bangladesh were discussed.

He told reporters Biswal ‘laid emphasis on strengthening the democratic process’ in South Asia.

“She has come to Dhaka from SAARC Summit in Nepal. She has reiterated what she said there (Nepal),” Chowdhury said.

Chowdhury said: “The BNP chairperson expressed the hope that the United States would continue its cooperation in furthering social, economic and democratic process of this region.”

Biswal came to Bangladesh in November last year amid shutdowns, blockades and political violence ahead of the parliamentary election to broker dialogues among the political parties.

The Awami League assumed office for the second consecutive term through the election boycotted by the BNP-led alliance.

The BNP has been demanding a fresh election under a caretaker administration calling the Jan 5 polls ‘illegitimate’.

BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, chairperson’s advisers Reaz Rahman and Sabih Uddin Ahmed, and US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena were also present at the meeting.