EP for detaching BNP from Jamaat

Voicing their previous stance to detach Jamaat from BNP, the visiting European Parliament (EP) delegation on Tuesday said they want to see the continuation of democracy in Bangladesh. The EP delegation said this when they met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Jatiya Sangsad office. PM’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil briefed reporters after the meeting. He said the visiting EP delegation, led by Jean Lambert, said they want to see the democratic process in the country continues in the days to come. Lambert reiterated their January 16 resolution on Bangladesh where they said the political parties which are associated with ‘terrorist acts’ in Bangladesh must be banned. It also urged BNP to ‘unequivocally’ distance itself from Jamaat-e-Islami and Hafezat-e-Islam in the interest of Bangladesh’s future. They pointed their finger at Jamaat for its destructive activities in recent times. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM’s Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi and former foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni were, among others, present during the meeting. Head of the Delegation of European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Ambassador William Hanna was also present, according to a news agency.