British high commissioner meets Jamaat chief ahead of polls

She reaffirms Britain's encouragement of “free, fair, credible and peaceful elections" in Bangladesh

British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke has met with Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman in Dhaka.

The meeting took place at the Jamaat chief’s office in Bashundhara on Sunday morning, the party said.

Cooke was accompanied by James Goldman, the British High Commission's deputy high commissioner and development director, Timothy Duckett, the head of political affairs at the commission, and Kate Ward, the second secretary.

According to a post on the British mission's official Facebook page called UK in Bangladesh, Cooke reiterated Britain's “long-standing encouragement of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections” in the country during the meeting.

In a statement, Jamaat said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and included discussions on preparations for Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election.

According to the party, the two sides discussed the importance of holding the election in a free, fair and credible manner, as well as issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the UK.

The statement said both sides expressed hope that the election would strengthen democracy and democratic institutions in Bangladesh, and voiced optimism about closer cooperation between the two countries in areas including trade and commerce.