Photo: Collected
The BNP has told United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres that it wants the interim government to hold the next national election quickly after completing the polls-centric reforms only. Talking to reporters this afternoon (15 March), BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said he conveyed their desire to the visiting UN chief during a meeting Guterres held with the National Consensus Commission, leaders of different political parties, and other stakeholders.
Fakhrul, who was accompanied by BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, made the remarks was talking to journalists after the meeting. Regarding the meeting, Salahuddin said the UN thinks that the people of Bangladesh will decide how and when the reforms and elections will take place as it is an internal matter of the country.
Earlier, Fakhrul and Salahuddin reached InterContinental Dhaka in the capital to attend the meeting with Guterres, who is currently visiting Bangladesh. Guterres arrived in Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon (13 March) on a four-day visit at the invitation of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
On Friday morning (14 March), the UN chief met with the chief adviser at his office. After the meeting, they went to Cox's Bazar on the same plane, where they visited the Rohingya refugee camps and joined an iftar event with around 100,000 Rohingyas.
Prior to yesterday's meeting with the CA, Guterres met with the foreign affairs adviser and discussed Bangladesh's ongoing changes and reform process. Guterres expressed gratitude for the close cooperation between the UN and Bangladesh and for Bangladesh's generosity toward Rohingya refugees.
The UN secretary general also thanked Bangladesh for its strong commitment to peacekeeping. Khalilur Rahman, the chief adviser's high representative for Rohingya issues, also met with the UN chief and discussed issues related to the Rohingya crisis.
According to a UN message, the duo discussed the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state and the upcoming high-level conference on Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar.
Messenger/JRTarek
