UNB, Dhaka :British Prime Minister David Cameron has expressed UK’s disappointment over the January-5 election in Bangladesh and laid emphasis on an open society and political system in which democratic political participation and media freedoms are respected.”The PM noted our disappointment over the January 2014 Bangladesh election with more than half of constituencies uncontested,” said Downing Street spokesperson following a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in London.The two Prime Ministers spoke about eliminating child marriage, January’s Bangladesh election, development goals and the Bangladeshi diaspora, said the spokesperson.Hasina and Cameron also agreed to work together on post-2015 development goals.Finally, they welcomed the important role of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK and the contribution they make to its cultural and economic life.David Cameron met Prime Minister Hasina ahead of the Girl Summit. The British PM welcomed Bangladesh’s commitment to eliminating child marriage and the two leaders agreed on the need for a strong follow up on this commitment.Sheikh Hasina also discussed the latest work on empowering and educating women and girls in Bangladesh.Earlier, at a press conference on PM’s UK visit, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said the British government wants to strengthen its relations with Bangladesh on all fronts to help Bangladesh take its development trajectory to a newer height.”The election is over. It’s past. Now we look at the future. We want to work with your government and strengthen the ties,” he quoted British Prime Minister David Cameron as saying during his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.Asked whether the United Kingdom has softened its position towards Bangladesh, Mahmood Ali said it is very clear like the daylight. He also made a counter question in hilarious mood, “Only soft…only soft?”Mahmood Ali described Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s UK visit ‘very successful’ and said the British Prime Minister assured of providing all necessary support to help Bangladesh maintain its progress. “The visit is not only time-befitting one, it can also be termed as diplomatically very successful one,” he said.Appreciating Bangladesh’s amazing achievements in socioeconomic development, the British Prime Minister expressed his willingness to visit Bangladesh to see for himself how Bangladesh could make such achievements, said the Foreign Minister.He said the British Prime Minister also wants to visit Sylhet when he will be here.
