UNB, Dhaka :Visiting UK Minister for International Development Lynne Featherstone on Tuesday urged the political parties in Bangladesh to continue conversations so that all political parties can take part in the next national elections.”That’s the way forward as I see,” she told a press conference at the British High Commission Staff Amenities Centre in the city.The British Minister also encouraged the political parties to create a ground so that everybody feels that the elections that will take place in the future are fair and just.Responding to a question, the UK Minister said the political parties need to continue conversations to end the five-year cycle of violence for the betterment of the country’s future.”I encourage all political parties to work out how this five-year cycle of violence in terms of elections can be ended. It’s no good for any of the political parties,” Featherstone said adding that said it is the most important thing for any country to succeed democratic peaceful elections.Referring to the then Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi, she said the election held on January 5 was ‘constitutionally correct’ but of course it was ‘disappointing’ that half of the constituencies were not contested.Responding to a question related to the denial of dialogue from the ruling party, Featherstone said all political parties are responsible for the people of Bangladesh. “They’ve a responsibility to you.”Asked about the idea of lowering the age limit to 16 years for marriage (girls), she said it seems to ‘contradict’ what Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina committed in the London Girls Summit recently.Featherstone hoped that the spirit of the Prime Minister about the matter will be upheld finally.Bangladesh, in the London Girls Summit, committed to making sure no marriage is taking place below the age of 15 by 2021 and reducing the number of girls getting married between 15 and 18 by more than one third by 2021.British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson and Country Representative of the Department for International Development (DFID) Sarah Cooke were also present.This was the first visit of Featherstone to Bangladesh and thanked all the people she has met for such a warm welcome.Meanwhile, she met Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Chumki Afroze and BRAC founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage in South Asia: 65 percent – that’s 2 in 3 girls and the fourth highest worldwide. “We know that girls who marry earlier are more likely to experience domestic violence, sexual violence, and complications or death during childbirth,” Featherstone said adding that such violence has a significant impact on women and girls’ ability to get out of poverty.She said UK’s commitments made at the Girl Summit to eliminate child marriage and all forms of violence must become a reality, in Bangladesh, in the UK, and in all other countries.”It’s a global initiative to help solve an issue that undermines development and affects communities worldwide,” she said. The UK minister also said she has been encouraging all those she has met to get involved, start a campaign, persuade others – and with your ability to reach people across the country. “I hope all of you in the media will be able to support their efforts.”
