British GPG Delegation Meets with Nahid Islam 

Staff Reporter: Yesterday, the British Global Partners Governance (GPG) delegation met with advisor Mr. Nahid Islam at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Nahid Islam stated that an interim government has taken responsibility in Bangladesh through a coup. This is an unprecedented event that has never happened before. "I am not aware of any other country where something like this has occurred. We are trying to work in such a situation," he said.

When Lord Jeremy Purvis, former member of the Scottish Parliament, asked about the challenges faced by the interim government, the advisor said that the main challenges are maintaining law and order, addressing economic issues, advancing reform efforts based on consensus with political parties, and establishing global communication.

Former Chilean Minister of Social Development, Giorgio Jackson, inquired about reforms and elections, to which Nahid Islam responded, "Political parties want the reforms to be under their control, and thus they are trying to prove the current interim government as a failure. They are giving more importance to elections than reforms."

When Matt Charter from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office asked what kind of assistance the interim government expects from them, the advisor said, "Your experience and advice on the post-coup democratic process and the trial of genocide are crucial for us."

The advisor further said that various kinds of propaganda are being spread internationally. Many are unable to correctly interpret the people's coup. "People do not understand how such a large dictator fell in such a short time. As a result, there are various conspiracies happening both inside and outside the country. Propaganda is also being spread about minority repression. Many are trying to deny that this movement was a democratic uprising."

Nahid Islam said that Bangladesh has been facing a long-standing human rights crisis. "People could not vote, and thousands of people were forcibly disappeared. The people of the country were in a suffocating situation. Therefore, protecting human rights is one of the primary goals of the interim government."

The GPG delegation assured full support to the interim government.

Biniyougbarta/SAM//