Khaleda meets Modi

A Bangladesh Nationalist Party delegation led by its chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday told visiting Indian prime minister Narendra Modi that absence of democracy in Bangladesh might create an ‘uncomfortable’ atmosphere in South Asia. Khaleda along with five BNP leaders called on Modi at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka at about 4:00pm.
Khaleda also had one-on-one talks with Modi.BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan after the meeting said at a briefing that the meeting between Khaleda and Narendra was held in a very cordial atmosphere.The meeting lasted about 45 minutes including 15 minutes one-on-one talks according to a member of the delegation.Moyeen said that the most important issue came up in the discussion was ‘absence of democracy in Bangladesh.’He said the BNP thought that an ‘uncomfortable’ atmosphere might be created not only in Bangladesh but in the entire region if democracy did not exist in Bangladesh.Moyeen said that repression on the opposition including on acting BNP secretary general, standing committee members and thousands of grassroots activists in absence of democracy automatically came up in the discussion.Welfare and representation of people are not possible without democracy, he said, adding that the ‘non-representative government’ was speaking about development which was meaningless as development that lacked transparency and accountability could bring no good for the people.He said that real development could be achieved ensuring freedom of speech people, accountability and restoration of multiparty democracy.Moyeen, who was present at the meeting, said that these were focused in the meeting.Asked about Modi’s response, he said, ‘We should not make public what they said during the meeting.’Asked whether they sought any cooperation from Modi over holding an election or restoration of democracy in Bangladesh, the BNP leader avoided a direct answer.He said that the meeting between Khaleda and Modi was not a forum to raise demands.He said democratic institutions in India were very strong but such strong institutions were yet to be established in Bangladesh.The Election Commission and administration go by the government will in Bangladesh, police are unleashed for repression on the opposition, he said.Those issues were discussed with importance, he said, adding that only big infrastructures in Dhaka were not enough if Bangladesh wanted to be a middle income country.Replying to a query, Moyeen said that Bangladesh might be small in population and area compared to India but many socio-economic indicators in Bangladesh were much above than that of India, while Bangladesh lagged much behind India in terms of democracy.He said that it was possible for Modi to become an elected prime minister of India from grassroots due to democracy.He said that people of Bangladesh expected a free and fair election to exercise their franchise.The BNP leader said each issue of mutual relations between Bangladesh and India and development of South Asia under SAARC were discussed.The BNP chairperson presented gifts including fabric for ‘panjabi’ and sleeveless jacket to the Indian prime minister and sari for his mother, party sources said.The other members of the delegation included BNP standing committee members Tariqul Islam, Nazrul Islam Khan and BNP chairperson’s adviser Reaz Rahman and Sabih Uddin Ahmed.Indian external affairs secretary S Jaishankar and Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran, among others, were present at the meeting from Indian side.

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