PM assures EU envoy of free, fair election

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured new ambassador of European Union (EU) of a free, fair and credible general election to be held at the end of this year.

“The Awami League had to struggle for protection of the democratic rights of the people when the state power was confined in the cantonment,” she said when new EU envoy Rensje Teerink called on Prime Minister at her Tejgaon office on Thursday.

Briefing reporters after the meeting PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said the Prime Minister’s comment came in response to the EU envoy’s hope for a transparent and credible election.

Sheikh Hasina and the envoy expressed satisfaction over the existing cordial relations, the press secretary said.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the EU for helping the Election Commission and introducing transparent ballot boxes and voters’ list with photographs.

The Prime Minister highlighted the development policy of her government saying the government is working with a special policy for socio-economic development and all development works are being implemented as the target set earlier.

Recalling her visit to EU headquarters in her first term in office the Prime Minister appreciated EU’s continuous support to Bangladesh.

As the Rohingya issue came in their discussion the Prime Minister said Rohingyas are creating immense burden on Bangladesh’s economy. Everybody including administration, police, army, BGB and other agencies are sincerely working to ensure their safe shelter, food and healthcare.

Huge number of Rohingyas is occupying the cultivable land of local people, causing economic problem on them.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the role of EU on refugee issue. She said as the next door neighbor Bangladesh is engaged in dialogue with Myanmar and other bordering countries of Myanmar to resolve the problem.

The Press Secretary said the envoy talked about the current situation of the garment sector saying the present government is very much sincere for giving a legitimate wages.

For fixing wages for workers of garment industries, the Prime Minister said, she herself bargained with the owners to raise their wages.

She said garment workers are working very nicely for development of the sector, despite attempts of creating trouble in the mills and factories from outside by non-professionals in vested interest.

Sheikh Hasina laid importance on role of buyers in fixation of prices of garment products which was endorsed by the EU envoy.

PM’s press secretary said the EU envoy appreciated Bangladesh’s tremendous achievement in various sectors including in the economic growth, graduation from LDCs to developing countries.

Raising power generation capacity from 3,000 MW to 18,000 MW is an impressive success, she said.

The envoy assured stepping up their support and pointed out 30 million Euro additional support of EU for Rohingays. She also mentioned about imposing sections on seven Myanmar generals for their links with the atrocities on Rohingays.

Rensje Teerinks hoped that the visit of UN Secretary General would help making the international support to Rohingyas more strong.

The envoy assured continued cooperation with Bangladesh on the issues of socio-economic development.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Md. Nojibur Rahman and Military Secretary Major General Mia Muhammad Joynul Abedin were present.

Source: bss