Germany wants to see free, fair election
Diplomatic Correspondent :
Germany’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Rüdiger Lotz, has delivered a pointed reminder that trade relations and political trust are intertwined, saying Dhaka’s hesitation over purchasing Airbus aircraft could influence broader economic decisions in Europe, including Bangladesh’s chances of retaining GSP+ privileges.
Speaking at a DCAB Talk event at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Wednesday, Lotz also said, Germany wants to see “a free, fair, credible and participatory election.”
In reply to a question whether it will have implications on trade relations if Bangladesh does not buy Airbus, Lotz said, “Of course it would. We are the most important business partner for Bangladesh and we have the feeling that we have been treated this way in the bilateral relations. I think we need reliability in business contacts.”
“We think Airbus is an excellent product. It is an excellent choice in an increasing aviation market,” he added.
When it comes to the questions like Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) plus, he said, “It is not threatening any one or so. But, of course, decisions that are linked to the bilateral economic relations, also depend to some extent on decision like that.”
He also said that decisions like Airbus are taken how these negotiations go.
“Of course, it’s a free and independent decision. But in personal life or in business life each decisions we take have also some consequences for the general mood of the atmosphere or so,” he added.
However, the Envoy also said, “We will continue to have close relations because it’s mutual interest.”
Behind the scenes, the Airbus-Boeing tug-of-war has only grown sharper. Macron announced in 2023 that Bangladesh had “committed to buying” 10 Airbus jets.
Boeing later countered, and after Washington slapped a 35 percent tariff on Bangladeshi goods, the interim government opted for 25 Boeing aircraft to blunt the trade blow. All this unfolded after Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024.
On the political front, Rüdiger Lotz made equally clear what Berlin wants to see in Bangladesh’s upcoming national election: a vote that is free, fair, credible, and genuinely participatory.
“We want to see an election where both women and men vote, where campaigning is peaceful, and political parties refrain from violence,” he said.
He noted that turnout matters in a free and fair election. In Europe, it typically sits between 50 and 80 percent, and anything above 50 percent creates what he called “solid legitimacy.”
He also pointed out that Professor Muhammad Yunus has projected a threshold of 60 percent turnout in the election in 2026.
About the reform initiatives of the interim government, the German ambassador said he supports continuing the reform process even after the election.
“It is crucial that the political parties stay committed to the reform process and stay committed to the reform process also after the election,” he said.
“The July Charter and the whole reform process are initiative to have a clear commitment whoever governs to continue this reform initiative. So far I see there is a broad willingness to go in this direction,” he added.
In reply to a question about Germany’s position if convicted Sheikh Hasina seeks refuge, the German Envoy said that they have not received any question or any wish in that direction.
“I think if that would ever happen, we would start a discussion process but it’s such a theoretical question whether we would be willing or not and I think I’m not in a position to answer that,” he said.
When it comes to the legal procedure, Ambassador Lotz said, it is of key importance to have a legal way to confront the injustice of the past, abuse of power by the past regime. This is important for any country after such a political change.
Regarding death penalty, he said, the European Union and Germany have always been against the death penalty without exception. “So of course we are also in this case against the death penalty.”
Ambassador Lotz said, “This attempt to confront the abuse of power and the injustice of the past has to be done in a way that respects the basic ideas of rule of law.”
President of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) AKM Moinuddin and its General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke at the event.