US Ambassador Bernicat meets BNP chief Khaleda

US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat has met Khaleda Zia at the BNP chairperson's office and discussed the current state of politics in Bangladesh.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 Feb 2017, 04:12 PM
Updated : 22 Feb 2017, 04:12 PM

Thursday's meeting was the first between the two after the change of administration in Washington with Republican Donald Trump assuming presidency in January.

BNP leaders said Bernicat and Khaleda also held a private discussion for sometime by the end of the two-hour long meeting.

Bernicat entered Khaleda's office at 4:50pm.

After the meeting, the ambassador told the media that it was part of a series of meetings with Bangladesh's political parties to understand the state of politics.

She said in a written statement that they discussed a range of issues but did not specify those.

She mentioned she met ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader recently.

Bernicat added she will continue the discussions with the other parties.

The BNP has not officially said anything about the meeting.

BNP leaders, on condition of anonymity, said the party told the US ambassador about what kind of environment it wants in the next parliamentary election for its fairness.

"We have expressed concern that the Jan 5, 2014 election situation may repeat itself in the next election in the absence of an impartial polls-time government," one of them said.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan and the Chairperson's Adviser Reaz Rahman were present at the meeting.

The US ambassador met Khaleda for the last time on Jan 24 last year.