The British Conservative Party expects that the next national election in Bangladesh will be competitive and all political parties would take part in it. A Conservative Party MP, Anne Main, made this observation while talking to reporters after a meeting with BNP leaders at Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office yesterday (Monday).

“We're hopeful that a competitive and participatory election will be held in Bangladesh in future, where all parties will get equal opportunities to hold rally, discussion meeting, assemble, and speak and people will be able to cast their votes for their chosen candidates,” said the British MP. Anne also said as a person of a democratic country, she feels that elections should be participatory and they should be held in a free and fair manner.

“I expect that all political parties will be able to take part in the next general election in Bangladesh,” she added.

Anne also expressed optimism that the BNP, which had boycotted the January 5 elections, would take part in the next general election.

A seven-member delegation of the Conservative Party, led by the MP, held the meeting with the BNP leaders for about an hour.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led the eight-member BNP team. The other leaders of the BNP team were standing committee members, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, chairperson’s adviser  Sabihuddin Ahmed, Abdul Quaiyum and Asaduzzaman Ripon.

BNP sources said the Conservative Party delegation also discussed different issues, including the latest development in the political arena, human rights situation, the Rohingya problem and other social issues.

Fakhrul told reporters that they had a fruitful meeting with the Conservative Party delegation. “They are keen to know about the current political situation in Bangladesh. We informed them about the latest development in the political arena,” he said.

The BNP leader further said they want to see a fair and participatory election in Bangladesh, where people would be able to express their willingness. The Conservative Party team that arrived in Bangladesh on Tuesday will go to Cox’s Bazar and visit Rohingya refugee camps there.