British High Commissioner expects all parties to join next election
The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Wednesday said the next general election in Bangladesh should be held in a transparent and competitive atmosphere with participation from all political parties.
High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson made the remarks while attending the "DCAB Talk" organised by the Diplomatic Correspondent Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club.
"It is important that elections are openly contested, so all political parties are able to participate in the election and can have confidence in the electoral process," Dickson said.
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The election should reflect the Bangladeshi constitution led by the Bangladeshi people and fulfill the constitutional ambitions, he added.
He said that anything related to elections should be a Bangladesh-driven and Bangladesh-led process, noting that it is not for foreigners to say how the elections should be held in the country.
"It is a matter for the Bangladeshi people to decide," he said.
On allegations of propaganda and conspiracy against Bangladesh from the UK, the British High Commissioner said: "The court has jurisdiction over returning a criminal. However, in the UK, if someone spreads hatred, the UK government takes action."
The High Commissioner also talked about the upcoming UN COP26, bilateral trade between Bangladesh and the UK, the Rohingya issue, defence and Covid-19 cooperation.
