UK wants to see fair, violence-free polls: FS

Polls, trade and investment, climate change and migration dominated the 5th strategic dialogue between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom in the city on Tuesday.
As a development partner they expressed their desire to see free, fair and participatory polls in Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen who led the Bangladesh side in the dialogue, told a briefing after the meeting.
Asked about the term 'participatory', the FS said that it could be carry different meaning including spontaneous participation of people, the foreign secretary said.
Participation of political parties depended on their decisions, he said, adding that Bangladesh assured the UK side that the government was committed to holding a free and fair election so that people could cast their votes freely.
The UK was the largest investor in Bangladesh last year and both sides discussed how to attract more FDI here through improving investment climate,
Bangladesh requested the UK to continue the GSP (generalised system of preference) facilities for Bangladeshi exports after the country's graduation from the LDC club and they said that they would consider it, Momen revealed.
The UK showed interest in helping Bangladesh to enhance capabilities in revenue earning, he mentioned.
"We have decided to sign a standard of procedure (SoP) with them so that we can bring back the illegal Bangladeshis from the UK".
They also agreed to form a joint working group on migration and mobility, he said.
Responding to a question about the status of BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, who has been staying in London since 2008, the FS said that the ministry was informed that Mr Tarique was living there as a political asylum seeker.