Highlights
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Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus assures February election will be free, fair, inclusive, and held on schedule.
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Meets UK Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman at Jamuna State Guest House.
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Discussions cover upcoming polls, migration control, trade expansion, Rohingya crisis, and aviation–maritime cooperation.
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Yunus says millions of youth will vote for the first time after 16 years of restricted elections.
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Awami League barred from participating under anti-terrorism restrictions and removed from the registered party list.
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Bangladesh purchasing a UK research vessel for Bay of Bengal exploration.
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UK calls for stronger aviation ties; Airbus chief to visit Bangladesh soon.
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Senior Bangladeshi and British officials were present at the meeting.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has once again reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the upcoming national parliamentary election is conducted in a free, fair, and inclusive manner.
He made the assurance on Thursday evening during a meeting with the UK Minister for International Development, Baroness Jenny Chapman, at the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues including the general election scheduled for February, efforts to curb illegal migration, expanding bilateral trade, addressing the Rohingya crisis, and strengthening cooperation in aviation and maritime sectors. Prof. Yunus reiterated that-
নির্বাচন নির্ধারিত সময় অনুযায়ী ফেব্রুয়ারির প্রথমার্ধেই অনুষ্ঠিত হবে। জোর দিয়ে বলেন, নির্বাচন হবে অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক ও অংশগ্রহণমূলক, এবং ভোটার উপস্থিতি হবে ব্যাপক।
Translation: the election will be held in the first half of February as planned. Emphasising inclusiveness and broad participation, he said that the voter turnout is expected to be significant.
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According to him,
নির্বাচন অংশগ্রহণমূলক হবে। বড় ধরনের ভোটার উপস্থিতি থাকবে। তিনি আরও বলেন, লাখো তরুণ প্রথমবারের মতো ভোটাধিকার প্রয়োগ করবে। গত ১৬ বছরের স্বৈরশাসনের তিনটি সাজানো নির্বাচনে তাদের ভোট দেয়ার সুযোগ ছিল না।
Translation:millions of young people will be voting for the first time after being denied the opportunity in what he described as three rigged elections held under 16 years of authoritarian rule.
The Chief Adviser noted that
আওয়ামী লীগ সন্ত্রাসবিরোধী আইনের আওতায় তাদের কার্যক্রম স্থগিত থাকায় নির্বাচনে অংশ নিতে পারবে না, এবং নির্বাচন কমিশন দলটিকে নিবন্ধিত রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর তালিকা থেকেও বাদ দিয়েছে।
Translation: the Awami League will not be able to participate in the election due to the suspension of its activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The Election Commission has also removed the party from the list of registered political parties.
The meeting also discussed the potential for expanding trade and cooperation between Dhaka and London. Prof. Yunus shared that Bangladesh is in the process of purchasing a British research vessel to conduct marine studies in the Bay of Bengal.
“নিজের ব্যবসার জন্য এখন নিজের ওয়েবসাইট — মাত্র কয়েক মিনিটে Storola দিয়ে!”
Minister Chapman called for deeper partnerships in the aviation sector and mentioned that the head of Airbus International will visit Bangladesh soon.
National Security Adviser Dr. Khaliqul Rahman, SDG Coordinator Lamia Morshed, and British High Commissioner Sarah Cook were present at the meeting.
Source: Jamuna Television
