BNP’s participation in the elections will solve many problems related to the holding of national polls in Bangladesh, the parliamentary standing committee on the foreign ministry informed the United States during its recent visit there.
Muhammad Faruk Khan, chief of the parliamentary watchdog said this after a meeting of the committee at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban today.
The four members of the parliamentary watchdog led by its chairman Muhammad Faruk Khan, and Nurul Islam Nahid, Nahim Razzak and Kazi Nabil Ahmed visited Washington in May.
The parliamentary body during its visit held a meeting with several congressman and a number of US officials.Faruk Khan today said during their visit, the parliamentary body held discussions on Bangladesh’s 50-year relationship with the United States, US sanctions on RAB, Bangladesh’s labor issue and Bangladesh’s upcoming elections.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Private Sector Salman Fazlur Rahman also visited the United States recently.
The parliamentary standing committee in its meeting today at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban discussed details about the three visits.
Emerging from the meeting, Faruk Khan briefed reporters that election of Bangladesh was discussed with the head of the International Republican Institute (IRI) during their visit in US.
“We have told them that elections will be held in Bangladesh in the same way as elections are held in other democratic countries in the world. But all over the world, those who lose elections raise allegations that there are problems in the polls. It has also happened in the United States as well. President Donald Trump did not accept the polls result,” he said.
“We have said that elections can be fair in Bangladesh only when all parties participate in it. Questions are raised following elections when BNP or its like-minded parties do not participate,” Faruk said.
“We hope that BNP will come in the next election. If they have any observations about the election or if they have any suggestions on how to improve the electoral system, they can go to the Election Commission,” Faruk Khan added.
The chairman of the committee said, “We have said that if BNP comes to the polls, many problems can be solved with our elections.”
The election will be in accordance with the constitution. There are many opportunities for discussion inside our constitution, the standing committee members said.
