Dhaka: A 10-member delegation of British Labour Party at a meeting with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders on Tuesday voiced concern over democratic condition in Bangladesh, the party claims.

‘We’ve discussed many issues, mainly Bangladesh’s current democratic condition at the meeting… the Labour Party team voiced concern over Bangladesh’s democratic situation,’ BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan told reporters after the meeting.

Briefing reporters, he said the Labour Friends of Bangladesh held the meeting with a BNP team to know Bangladesh’s overall situation, reported UNB.

The nearly one-hour meeting was held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Chairman of Labour Friends of Bangladesh Howard Dawber led the Labour Party team. However, there was no briefing from the delegation.

The BNP leaders who were present at the meeting include party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, vice chairman Selima Rahman and chairperson’s adviser Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Moyeen Khan said the Labour Party team asked them various questions to have a picture of the country’s current political situation. ‘We’ ve realised that they have understood that Bangladesh’s current political situation is not normal.’

He said they also discussed issues relating to development of the country. ‘We’ve clearly told them a sustainable development is not possible without restoration of democracy. We also said there are no rights of people, including the right of expression, here.’

The BNP leader said the January-5 election and three city polls, upazila, municipal, and upcoming union parishad polls and the role of the Election Commission also came up for discussions at the meeting. ‘

Moyeen Khan said they talked about how to improve the political situation here. ‘We’ve told them to overcome the current situation, restore a healthy democratic atmosphere ensuring democratic rights.

There can also be a dialogue between the government and opposition.’