Uncontested elections, digital security act, and labour rights were the major topics raised during the diplomatic briefing held in the city on Sunday, officials of the foreign ministry said.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Law Minister Anisul Huq, LGRD Minister Md. Tajul Islam and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam were present at the briefing in presence of around 40 diplomats.
The briefing, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the first diplomatic briefing of the year was arranged to exchange New Year’s greetings with the diplomatic community.
On the issue of polls, the ministers expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring free and fair polls at all levels.
When diplomats raised the issue of uncontested elections, the law minister explained that polls, held under the current government, were participatory.
He also said mentioned that there were such examples in many developed countries, where candidates were elected unopposed.
The LGRD Minister briefed the diplomats about the different phases and results of the ongoing local government elections.
Tajul Islam mentioned that a large number of independent candidates were elected during these elections.
Momen stated that the country recently got a union council chairman from the third gender community for the first time.
The foreign minister reaffirmed the government’s firm determination for the development and protection of the rights of the people through their empowerment.
The law minister, in his remarks, elaborated on the procedure of the election commission formation and the current dialogue of the president of the country with different political parties.
Momen said, “The government is pledge-bound to uphold its constitutional obligation.”
“Last year was a year of recovery and hope,” Momen said.
With the twin celebrations of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s Independence, the year had a special significance for Bangladesh, the foreign minister continued.
Momen also highlighted Bangladesh’s successful management of the onslaughts of the pandemic and different incentives and packages announced to address its negative impact.
He stated that despite the pandemic, Bangladesh managed a growth rate of 5.4 per cent last year.
About Digital Security Act, he mentioned the government’s engagement with the relevant UN offices to understand best practices in this regard.
He expressed the government’s readiness to address any misuse or abuse of the act.
The law minister also talked about ongoing initiatives towards labour sector reform including through a time-bound approach.
Thanking the trading partners of the country, the state minister for foreign affairs spoke on the initiatives of the government to create an investor-friendly environment in the country.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was also present in the briefing.
Issues related to LDC graduation, business and investment, Rohingya repatriation also came up during the interactive session.
