Bangladesh election marks a significant milestone in the country’s democratic journey: UK envoy

Abida Islam, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has described the country’s recent parliamentary election as a landmark moment in its democratic journey.

Speaking at a panel discussion titled “Bangladesh Election: What Next?”, she said the government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman remains firmly committed to strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights, guided by a vision of building an inclusive nation.

The event, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, was held on Tuesday (24 February) in a committee room of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The session was chaired by British MP Apsana Begum and featured speakers including Baroness Winterton, UK Trade Envoy for Bangladesh; Chietigj Bajpaee, Senior Research Fellow for South Asia at Chatham House; and Sohela Nazneen, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies. Among those in attendance were former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and MP Rupa Huq, alongside prominent journalists and human rights activists.

Abida Islam said the government is focused on implementing substantive reforms to improve the lives of citizens, noting significant similarities between the BNP’s election manifesto and the July Charter. Outlining the economic vision, she said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman aims to build a socially and economically inclusive nation, with the ambitious target of transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy. She highlighted the “Family Card” scheme as a key initiative promoting social inclusion and advancing women’s rights.

On foreign policy, the High Commissioner said the “Bangladesh First” approach seeks to maintain friendly relations with all countries while firmly protecting national sovereignty and interests.

Baroness Winterton congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on assuming office and expressed the UK’s interest in deepening trade ties with Bangladesh. Drawing on her recent visit, she said the country’s strong growth potential can best be realised within a stable democratic framework.

Addressing the issue of repatriating assets allegedly laundered from Bangladesh to the UK, she confirmed that the British government is actively supporting efforts in this regard.

In his closing remarks, Chietigj Bajpaee observed that, given the prevailing political climate, the BNP’s electoral victory had been widely anticipated.