Alistair concurs with Khaleda on CG talks

DHAKA: Alistair Burt, UK`s foreign office minister for South Asia Monday concurred with opposition BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia over dialogue on caretaker government (CG) issues.

The British minister gave his note in favour of the dialogue at a 40-minute meeting with the opposition leader at her Gulshan residence in the morning.

Expressing deep concern about the next national election of Bangladesh, the conservative party lawmaker asked Khaleda about the ways for free, fair and neutral election.

In reply Khaleda said we want to sit for dialogue with the government as the nation wants an election under caretaker government. We have no problem with the name of the non-party government as our only demand is an acceptable and neutral election.

Concurring with Khaleda, Alistair said I am optimist about the resolution of the current situation over the issue of caretaker government.

Expressing deep worry about the missing Ilias Ali, the UK parliamentarian said Ilias issue was also discussed in UK and it is better if the government takes effective initiatives to stop abduction and murder.

He said the relation between Bangladesh and Britain is historically significant. The relation was good during the BNP regime and will be better in future also.

The relation is also improving due to the expatriate Bangladeshi professionals in UK, he added.

They also discussed about some bilateral interests.

BNP Vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury pointed out meeting agenda to the journalists after the meeting.

Officials of British High Commission in Dhaka and Khaleda Zia`s advisers Riaz Rahman and Sabih Uddin Ahmed were present in the meeting, Mobin confirmed.

BDST: 1810 HRS, MAY 28, 2012
Edited by:Kaiser Ahmed, Newsroom Editor / Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor