BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday ‘elaborately discussed Bangladesh’s next election’ with US Secretary of State John Kerry at a meeting at the US Embassy here on Monday.”The current state of Bangladesh’s democracy, press freedom, human rights, the rule of law and country’s current crisis over militancy and terrorism were discussed extensively at the meeting,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Briefing reporters in front of BNP chairperson’s Gulshan residence about the meeting with Kerry, he also said, “There has been a detailed discussion on the next election at the meeting.”Asked what they exactly discussed about the next election, the BNP Secretary General parried the question.Fakhrul said they had around a 35-minute meeting with the US Secretary of State beginning at 4:35pm.He said, Kerry told them that the US is eager to work with Bangladesh with a friendly manner to restore democracy and people’s rights and the rule of law in the country.The BNP leader said, the US has been working with Bangladesh to ‘help it restore a stable situation here’.”They (US) as well as we are hopeful that democracy will be restored and the economic development will be ensured in Bangladesh with the help of the US,” Fakhrul told the journalists.Khaleda went to the US Embassy at around 4:17pm and left it about 5:15pm concluding the meeting.BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and BNP Chairperson’s adviser Sabihuddin Ahmed were present during the meeting.
