Bar on no political party to contest in general elections: Gowher Rizvi

Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi has said the next general elections will be held in a “free and fair” without any impediments to political parties.

Speaking at the Bangladesh-Australia bilateral chamber’s event on Sunday, he said there was no question about elections which will be held in time and according to the rules.

“There’ll be no impediment to any political party from participating in the election,” he said.

The Australia Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABCCI) organised the discussion on Bangladesh-Australia trade and investment opportunities and to welcome the new Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Julia Niblett.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Kazi M Aminul Islam and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) also spoke at the event.

The prime minister’s adviser highlighted the political stability in Bangladesh for the last one decade and said it is now a “different place” and what made this possible was the “political stability”.

He also urged the investors to continue to come to ‘stable’ Bangladesh, saying “your investment is not at risk”.

“You can look at every possible indicator - social or economic. We can be truly proud of our achievements in the last 10 years,” Rizvi said.

He cited the recent economic growth of over 7 percent and said it is the stability and the continuity that is helping Bangladesh to grow.

Australian envoy Niblett said both countries will continue to work “energetically and closely” with all businesses to take Bangladesh-Australia trade and investment relations forward.

BIDA chief Aminul Islam stressed cooperation in the field of infrastructure development, knowledge, and skills.

“We can work together in order to improve the well-being of Bangladesh people as well as Australians,” he said.