UNB, Dhaka: Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen today told visiting US congressmen Ed Case and Richard McCormick that there is no scope for reaching a consensus as BNP wants the government to step down.
He conveyed the message when the congressmen wanted to know if there is a way to reach a consensus with the opposition party ahead of the national polls.
Momen also asked them whether the US government would step down prior to the election there.
The foreign minister held the meeting with the visiting Congressmen at the State Guest House Padma this afternoon.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas was also present in the meeting. Congressman McCormick is representing the Republican Party from Georgia, and Case is from the Democratic Party, Hawaii.
From the Bangladesh side, among others, Special Envoy to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury; Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Kazi Nabil Ahmed; and Mohammad A. Arafat were present at the meeting.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the foreign minister said the election will be held as per the existing rules.
He said the Bangladesh government is committed to holding fair and transparent elections. However, there is a need for sincere efforts from all political parties to hold a free and fair election, he added.
"Resignation of the government cannot be a topic," he said adding the opposition is only talking about the resignation of the government instead of thinking about the next election.
Terming Awami League a pro-election political party, he said the government will ensure fair polls so that people can elect their leaders.
Momen said they discussed the growing trade relations between the two countries and invited the US to invest more in Bangladesh in diverse areas, including in the pharmaceutical sector.
Climate issues and ties with China also came up for discussion. The Rohingya crisis and Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific Outlook were also discussed in the meeting, he added.
In the morning, the congressmen visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka.
The congressmen are scheduled to meet leaders of various political parties.
Case and McCormick will visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar tomorrow and hold meetings with various stakeholders.
The US embassy said they are pleased to welcome the first congressional delegation since 2017.
While in Dhaka, the congressmen will meet the government officials, and civil society members to discuss the importance of free and fair elections and issues of mutual interest to strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States.
