Dhaka, Aug 19 (V7N) - On Monday, Bernd Spanier, the Acting Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh, held a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to discuss Bangladesh’s economic and democratic progress.

The meeting, which took place at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, lasted for an hour and began around 10:30 am. During their discussion, Spanier expressed the EU’s commitment to assisting Bangladesh in recovering substantial sums of money that were reportedly siphoned off abroad during the tenure of the former autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were also present at the meeting.

Speaking to the press afterward, Khosru outlined that the discussions focused on the overall situation in Bangladesh, particularly in light of the political shifts brought about by the student-led mass movement. The meeting also covered the future trajectory of Bangladesh’s democracy, politics, and economy.

Khosru mentioned that they explored potential avenues for EU support and collaboration to aid Bangladesh in overcoming its current challenges. The discussion included strategies for economic recovery, improving good governance, and restoring the integrity of national institutions. The BNP also sought EU assistance to maintain a steady export of Bangladeshi products to European markets and requested recommendations on financial sector reforms to boost the economy.

Regarding elections, Khosru emphasized the critical need for democratic restoration through electoral processes, confirming that this issue was part of their discussions. He also highlighted the significant concern about the siphoned funds and noted that there was a mutual agreement on the importance of collaborative efforts to address this issue.

The EU has shown a willingness to cooperate on these matters, according to Khosru.

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