UK reiterates support for fair polls
Staff Reporter:
The United Kingdom has reiterated its support for Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national parliamentary election being held in a free, fair, credible and peaceful manner, the British High Commission in Dhaka said on Sunday following a meeting between UK High Commissioner Sarah Cooke and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman.
The assurance was conveyed during a courtesy call paid by the high commissioner at Shafiqur Rahman’s office in the capital’s Bashundhara area on Sunday morning. The British High Commission disclosed the meeting in a post from its verified X account, stating that the discussion focused on the election environment and broader issues of mutual interest.
Jamaat-e-Islami also confirmed the meeting in a statement posted on its verified Facebook page, noting that the talks took place around 9:30am at the party chief’s office.
According to the British High Commission, both sides held what it described as an open discussion on various aspects of ensuring that Bangladesh’s next parliamentary election is conducted in a free, fair and
acceptable manner. The talks also covered wider bilateral issues concerning the two countries.
“Both sides expressed hope that the election would further strengthen democracy and democratic institutions in Bangladesh,” the High Commission said, adding that they also voiced optimism about deepening friendly relations between the two countries, including cooperation in trade and commerce.
British Deputy High Commissioner James Goldman, Head of the Political Section Timothy Dackett, and Second Secretary (Political) Kate Ward were present at the meeting.
Jamaat-e-Islami said its delegation included assistant secretary general and central publicity and media department chief Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, central executive council member Mobarak Hossain, and the ameer’s foreign affairs adviser Mahmudul Hasan.
The meeting comes as diplomatic engagement around Bangladesh’s forthcoming 13th parliamentary election continues to intensify, with international partners repeatedly stressing the importance of an inclusive, peaceful and credible electoral process.