The European Parliament has expressed its hope for the swift return of democracy in Bangladesh during a meeting between a high-level delegation and BNP leaders on Wednesday.
The hour-long meeting took place at the European Union Embassy in Gulshan at 4:30pm. The BNP delegation, led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, included Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Acting Chairman Humayun Kabir, International Affairs Secretary Nasir Uddin Asim, and Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid.
The European Parliament delegation was led by Mounir Satouri, and included Isabelle Viedder-Lima from Luxembourg, Arkadiusz Mularczyk from Poland, Urmas Paet from Estonia, and Catarina Vieira from the Netherlands.
After the meeting, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury spoke to journalists outside the embassy.
He said, “The European Union hopes that democracy will return to Bangladesh as quickly as possible. The EU and the European Parliament are satisfied that Bangladesh is moving towards an election. They want Bangladesh to proceed on the path of democracy as soon as possible and return to a democratic process.”
The BNP leader mentioned that the discussion primarily revolved around election-related matters. “We discussed what we plan to do ahead of the election, what their role will be, and the ongoing dialogues among various political parties. Their final point was that democracy needs to return to Bangladesh through an election as soon as possible, and this is what the EU wants.”
It was also conveyed in the meeting that the European Union is willing to do the necessary work for this.
In response to a question about the Proportional Representation (PR) system, Amir Khosru said, “This was also discussed, and through the discussion, they understood that even if someone wants PR, it must be passed in parliament with a public mandate after the election. It is not possible for a few people sitting around a table to decide this on behalf of some political parties.”
“This is a public mandate; if the people want it after the next election, it will happen. If they don’t, it won’t,” he added.
Commenting that the people of Bangladesh have not authorised any political party to decide on this matter, he said, “This is not a matter for discussion. If any political party desires this, they must take it to the people in the next election. They must come to parliament with a mandate.”
In response to a question about increasing trade cooperation, Nazrul Islam Khan said, “We have always received cooperation from the European Union in both the development of Bangladesh and the establishment of democracy in Bangladesh. They have continued this cooperation, and they want Bangladesh to return to democracy and establish democracy as quickly as possible.”
Nazrul Islam Khan mentioned that he requested the EU delegation to further increase the European Union’s trade cooperation with Bangladesh, in addition to supporting the consolidation of democracy.
