UK differs with Bangladesh on Cameron’s view on Jan 5 election

The UK government has expressed its disappointment over the January 5 election in Bangladesh, though earlier Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali claimed, ‘British prime minister termed January 5 Bangladesh election a thing of past and London wants to look forward and strengthen relations with Dhaka’.

Mahmood Ali told it in a media briefing on Thursday at the foreign ministry on the outcome of prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s three- day visit to London in July 22-24, where she attended the first ever Girl Summit and had bilateral talks with David Cameron on the sidelines of the summit.

British Prime Minister David Cameron conveyed his disappointment to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during their meeting at 10 Downing Street on July 22, ahead of the Girl Summit 2014.

“The PM (Cameron) noted our disappointment over the January, 2014 Bangladesh election with more than half of constituencies uncontested,” a Downing Street spokesperson said following the meeting, according to a post on the UK government’s official website.

“The two Prime ministers [Cameron and Hasina] agreed on the importance of an open society and political system in which democratic political participation and media freedoms are respected,” the spokesperson said.

Candidates of 153 constituencies out of 300 were elected uncontested in the 10th parliamentary elections boycotted by the BNP and its allies, it should be recalled.