Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday discussed with the visiting European Parliament (EP) delegation Bangladesh’s political, economic, social, law and order and human rights situations.

The delegation, led by Jean Lambert (Green Party), chair of the delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia, met the BNP chief at her Gulshan office.

Briefing reporters after the nearly one-hour meeting that began at about 4:30pm, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said, ‘We mainly discuss Bangladesh’s issues about which the European Union is concerned. They’ve questioned us about the country’s current political, economic, social, and law and order situation to have a picture about that.’

He said they also shared with the EP team their concern about the country’s democratic situation.

Moyeen also said as the EP delegation has the main concern about human rights situation, they elaborately discussed public security, killing, law and order, enforced disappearance, working environment in the RMG sector and oppression on the opposition.

However, there was no briefing from the EP team.

Moyeen said the delegation will brief the media about their observations at a press conference before wrapping up their tour.

He said they told the EP delegation that good governance and human rights cannot be ensured as there is no democracy in the country. ‘We’ve told them a government which doesn’t represent people can’t ensure people’s welfare.’

Replying to a question, he said they also told the delegation that the government is trying to annihilate the opposition using the administration and various threats.  

Asked whether they discussed about parliamentary election, Moyeen said they told the delegation that as a liberal democratic party, BNP wants transfer of power in a peaceful manner through a credible election.  

European Union Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon and other members of the delegation -- Richard Howitt (Labour Party), vice-chair, delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia, Ivan Štefanec (Christian Democrats), member, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and Sajjad Karim (United Kingdom Conservative Party), Committee on International Trade,-- Moyeen Khan, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and chairperson’s adviser Sabihuddin Ahmed were also present at the meeting.