The United Kingdom on Tuesday expressed the hope that Bangladesh’s next general election will be an inclusive one.Tariq Mahmood Ahmad, the Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, came up with the view when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban in the afternoon.
After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.While talking about the UK’s exit from the European Union, known as Brexit, Mahmood, also the British Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, said it will not affect Bangladesh and its (Bangladesh) trade benefits will continue as well.
He urged the Prime Minister to take the leadership of girl education and women empowerment in the Commonwealth Summit to be held next year.Highly praising Bangladesh’s stunning socioeconomic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the British state minister said, “Bangladesh has an incredible story to tell … and under your dynamic leadership, Bangladesh is going to be a middle-income country.”
About terrorism, he said the world will have to act together to contain terrorism and stop human trafficking.Mahmood said he had a constructive visit and productive meetings with ministers and government officials of Bangladesh.He appreciated the government’s steps to integrate Qawmi madrasah education with the mainstream one.
The Prime Minister said after the War of Liberation, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave priority to promoting girl’s education. “In line with that, our government created awareness and facilities in this regard,” she said.Hasina said at the primary level education, about 60 percent of the teachers are being recruited from the women.Regarding girl’s education and women empowerment, she recalled Father of the Nation’s saying that when a woman earns money, her status gets boosted in the family.
The Prime Minister said her government has been collaborating with the neighbouring countries to check human trafficking through the bordering areas.She said Bangladeshi workers wishing to go abroad now need to make online registration.Reiterating her government’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy on terrorism and militancy, Hasina once again said no one will be allowed to use the soil of Bangladesh to carry out any terrorist and militant act.
She said the present government has successfully created awareness among people and mobilised public opinions against the two menaces through holding videoconferencing with a cross-section of people.The Prime Minister told the UK state minister that even the villagers inform the law enforcement agencies whenever they find any wrongdoing.PM’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi and PMO Senior Secretary Suraiya Begum were, among others, present on the occasion.
