Lies will strain ties, BNP cautions AL

The country’s diplomatic ties with the UK may get strained as the Bangladesh government ‘lied’ over British Prime Minister David Cameron’s comments on the Jan 5 polls, the BNP cautioned the ruling party. UK had expressed dismay over the Jan 5 polls boycotted by the BNP and its allies. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to London on a 3-day official visit last week and had a meeting with Cameron. Bangladesh’s foreign minister told reporters that Cameron had termed the Jan 5 polls ‘a matter of the past’. In his briefing, AH Mahmood Ali claimed the British premier had told Hasina that, ‘We need to look to the future. The UK wants to have close relations with Bangladesh. The British government will continue to work together with Bangladesh government.’ However, BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury on Saturday claimed Ali’s statement contradicted the one issued by Cameron’s spokesperson. Addressing the reporters he said the UK and the European Union’s stance on the Jan 5 polls was unchanged, according to a news agency.