Preventing political arrests can increase trust in Bangladesh elections: UK state minister

Preventing politically-targeted arrests, detention and legal cases can increase people's trust in elections, visiting UK Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) of Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan said on Sunday. 

"Credible election will internally key foundation in demonstrating a commitment to the country's founding constitutional values for parliamentary democracy, and human rights," she said at a discussion, titled "Bangladesh-UK Partnership in the context of Indo-Pacific", at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

She suggested the political parties put their efforts into making the next national election participatory and violence-free. Appreciating the commitment of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a fair and credible election, she said the international community can help Bangladesh by offering election observers. 

Lauding Bangladesh for its transition to middle-income country status, Anne-Marie emphasised further strengthening the UK-Bangladesh partnership. 

Earlier on Sunday morning, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told reporters that he requested the British minister of state, during a courtesy call, not to worry about the upcoming national elections of Bangladesh. 

The foreign minister said that he himself raised the issue of Bangladesh elections. "They did not ask about our next election. We want to make a credible, clean, beautiful and acceptable election, that is why we have prepared all the institutions."

"Democracy, justice and human rights are in our blood. We have no scope to learn these things from anyone else. If the British have weakness, they can take it from us."

Bangladesh, UK sign deal on climate change

Bangladesh and the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday signed an agreement for working together in climate action bilaterally and multilaterally to help deliver the outcomes of COP26 and COP27.

State Minister Md Shahriar Alam and visiting UK's Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan inked the deal titled "Bangladesh-UK climate accord" on behalf of their respective sides at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. 

After signing the deal, Alam said that from now on Bangladesh and Britain would work together on the climate change front especially to implement the recommendations made during the COP 26 and COP 27. 

"Especially, we will work together to implement the loss and damage issue in favour of the climate-vulnerable countries," he said. 

The state minister said Dhaka would also work with the UK to make the climate adaptation financial mechanism more innovative to support the countries that are mostly affected by the adverse impact of global warming. 

Trevelyan arrived in Dhaka on Friday to discuss security, democracy, human rights, trade and the Rohingya crisis.

"As Bangladesh continues its development trajectory, the visit aims to celebrate the success and solidify the close links between the two countries for the years ahead, including through Bangladesh's crucial election year," said the British High Commission regarding the visit.