‘India wants inclusive polls in Bangladesh’

Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today told BNP that her country wants the next general election in Bangladesh will be held in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

“India wants free, fair and inclusive elections in its neighboring countries including Bangladesh. Sushma Swaraj expressed her government’s wills during meeting with us,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said while briefing reporters after the meeting this evening.

Earlier, a seven-member delegation led by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia held a meeting with the visiting Indian external affairs minister at the hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka this evening.

About the role of the Election Commission, India expects that the election monitoring body would play an impartial and transparent role during the national election, Fakhrul said quoting Swaraj.

About repatriation of the Rohingya people, Fakhrul said Swaraj informed that India is continuously mounting pressure on Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh in the face of persecution in Rakhin state.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia led the seven-member delegation.

Sushma Swaraj arrived in Dhaka today for a 24-hour visit to join the meeting of India- Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) and meet high government officials and political leaders.

Later, Raushan Ershad, leader of the opposition in the parliament, also met Swaraj at the same place and talked many bilateral issues including Teesta Water treaty and Rohingya issue.