British High Commissioner to Dhaka Sarah Cooke on Wednesday expressed the UK’s call for all stakeholders to exercise restraint, avoid violence and work together to create the conditions for "free, fair, participatory and peaceful" elections.
She reiterated the UK’s deep concern at the violence and loss of life seen on October 28.
Cooke met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and discussed bilateral issues apart from upcoming elections on Wednesday.
Read: SOPs to be signed to bring back undocumented Bangladeshis living in UK: Home Minister
The wide-ranging discussion reflected the strength of the UK and Bangladesh’s modern economic, trade and security partnership.
The high commissioner and the home minister discussed next steps in enhancing bilateral security cooperation between the UK and Bangladesh, in line with commitments undertaken by both sides during the fifth UK-Bangladesh Strategic Dialogue, which was held in Dhaka on 12 September 2023.
Both of them agreed to hold the first UK-Bangladesh Joint Working Group discussion in mid-November to enhance bilateral migration and security cooperation.
Read: UN rights body not 'correctly' informed on recent violence in Dhaka: Momen
They also discussed the UK’s development contribution to Bangladesh through its Access to Justice Programme, which is designed to support poor and vulnerable people to have better access to the justice system through paralegal services.