Sweden calls for free, fair polls in Bangladesh
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Swedish State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Diana Janse and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are pictured at the latter's official residence, Ganabhaban, in Dhaka on Monday, October 9, 2023. Photo: PID
Swedish State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Diana Janse has said her country wants to see a free, fair and inclusive election in Bangladesh.
Janse made the call when she met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on Monday morning, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina, in response, told the Swedish official that her government is committed to holding a free and fair election, reports UNB.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the excellent relations between the two countries, according to BSS.
The prime minister said the Ukraine-Russia war should be stopped, and the money saved from ending the war should be channelled towards the welfare of mankind.
"Sanctions should not be placed on transportation of food grains," she said.
The premier said inflation, commodity prices and goods transportation costs had gone up due to the war and sanctions.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh had no food crisis as its agriculturists were playing a great role in increasing food production.
She went on to say that her government was establishing 100 special economic zones across the country.
The prime minister also offered land for Swedish investment.
The Swedish state secretary praised the Bangladesh prime minister for giving shelter to over a million displaced Myanmar nationals and said her government wanted dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.
Janse said the Matarbari deep-sea port would be the game changer for Bangladesh.
She also appreciated Sheikh Hasina's leadership for the overall development of Bangladesh, particularly in women empowerment, poverty reduction and taking measures to mitigate climate change impacts.
The prime minister said developed countries were not doing enough to combat the impacts of climate change.
Prime Minister's Office PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde were present at the meeting.