Bangladesh expressed its disappointment to the United Kingdom (UK) for presenting ‘grossly misleading’ information about jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Monday.
The British Acting High Commissioner Javed Patel was summoned on Sunday to convey the government's views and disappointment with certain issues mentioned in the Bangladesh chapter of the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2020 released by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) last Thursday.
Commenting on the issue, the foreign minister said, the Acting High Commissioner (AHC) was told that it was grossly misleading to use the words "house arrest" in reference to the current situation of Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
After getting the application of Begum Zia's brother, the government had - as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 - suspended her prison sentence and 'released' her in March 2020 on condition that she would receive medical treatment at home and would not travel abroad, the foreign minister said.
“The suspension of her sentence and release from prison, applicable for an initial six-month period, were subsequently extended twice in September 2020 and March 2021.”
The foreign ministry told the AHC to consult the concerned authorities of the government in case of any confusion over such legal issues, he added.
Responding to a query, he said Bangladesh joined the China-led six nations platform on Covid to fight the pandemic.
China plans to establish vaccine warehouses in different places in South Asia from where vaccines would be delivered during urgency, he said,
This platform is a loose grouping and India was also offered to join it, he added.
The platform will also help to address the post pandemic economic recovery specially to reduce poverty among the Covid affected grassroot people, the minister opined.
Responding to another question, he said that Bangladesh is scheduled to hold the international peace conference in Dhaka on December 2 and 3.
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