New British high commissioner to Bangladesh Alison Blake on Wednesday said most of the Bangladeshis were denied rights to vote in the 5 January 2014 general elections.Blake, who took charge after handing over her credentials to the president, Abdul Hamid, on Tuesday, said a stable, prosperous and secure Bangladesh is in the UK’s interest.She was addressing a media briefing at the British Club in the capital.Blake, the UK’s first woman high commissioner to Bangladesh, said the United Kingdom is ready to support Dhaka to combat “violent terrorism” and “threats to the safety” of citizens of the two countries as well as to support the country on its democratic path.When newsmen drawn her attention to the state of democracy in the country, Blake said both the UK and Bangladesh practice parliamentary democracy.“There is nothing to hide that we had concern over the last parliamentary elections as majority of the people were deprived of exercising their franchise in that elections,” she said.
She added that the UK will cooperate with Bangladesh in holding a participatory, free, and fair election in future. “The elections should be participatory as it brings stability and prosperity for a country.”In her written speech, Blake said, “I am here because the UK believes that a stable, prosperous and secure Bangladesh is in the UK’s interest as well as that of Bangladesh.We are committed to supporting Bangladesh in its aspirations to build a brighter future for all its people. That means supporting its aspirations to become a middle income country by 2021, helping lift the population out of poverty, improving the rights and prospects of women and girls, building resilience in line with international principles and commitments, and working to counter violent extremism and threats to the safety of our citizens to protect both our countries,” the British diplomat added.
source:prothom alo
