EU envoy holds talks with Jamaat chief in Dhaka

The ambassador inquired about Shafiqur's health and discussed matters of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the EU, the party says

European Union Ambassador Charles Whiteley has met Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman as Bangladesh gears up for another political transition with the next general election.

The meeting took place on Thursday at the Jamaat leader’s residence in Dhaka's Bashundhara.

Also present were Jamaat’s deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Prof Mahmudul Hasan, Shafiqur's foreign affairs advisor.

Following the meeting, Taher told reporters that the ambassador inquired about Shafiqur's health and discussed matters of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the EU.

He added that Whiteley also briefed the Jamaat chief on plans for a high-level EU delegation to visit Dhaka later this month, which is expected to include further discussions with the party.