British envoy meets Tarique Rahman

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke on Saturday met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman at latter's Gulshan office in the capital.

During the meeting, Sarah Cooke reaffirmed her country's long?standing encouragement of 'free, fair, credible and peaceful' elections in Bangladesh.
She also conveyed sincere condolences on the passing of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

It was the first meeting between Tarique Rahman and Cooke since his return from London, where he had lived for more than 17 years.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, Chairman's Advisor Mahadi Amin and BNP International Affairs Secretary Rashedul Haque were present during the meeting on Saturday evening.

Earlier in the afternoon, Nepalese Ambassador Ghanshyam Bhandari and his Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Karma Hamu Dorjee also met the BNP chairperson separately.

Humayun Kabir told reporters the three envoys met Rahman in a "cordial atmosphere".

"They exchanged views on behalf of their respective governments. Discussions were held on Tarique Rahman's return, BNP's future development plans, and how bilateral relations and cooperation in different sectors can be strengthened," he said.