Canadian high commissioner to Dhaka Ajit Singh on Monday met Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders at the party鈥檚 central office in Dhaka where they discussed Bangladesh鈥檚 state reform process and the next national election.
Jamaat ameer Shafiqur Rahman led the party delegation in the meeting, a press release issued by the party鈥檚 media cell said.
Jamaat nayeb-e-ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said that the Canadian envoy inquired about the ongoing political dialogue with the National Consensus Commission.
The discussed issues included Jamaat鈥檚 recommendations to limit the prime minister鈥檚 term, a bicameral parliament, a new voter list covering expatriates, and proportional representation in the parliament, he said.
鈥榃e informed the high commissioner that Jamaat has recommended a referendum in case consensus cannot be achieved on core issues,鈥� the press release quoted Taher as saying.
He added that the interim government had been requested to ensure a level playing field for a free, fair and peaceful election.
The Jamaat delegation called on Canada and other development partners to consider providing financial support regarding Bangladesh鈥檚 election-related expenditures.
According to the press release, the Canadian envoy assured the Jamaat leaders that Canada would consider coordinating such support through the United Nations.
The high commissioner expressed his country鈥檚 commitment to providing both technical and overall assistance to ensure free, fair, and credible parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.
The Canadian envoy was accompanied by the high commission鈥檚 senior political officer Siobhan Kerr and political and economic adviser Nisar Ahmed while Jamaat鈥檚 nayeb-e-ameer Mujibur Rahman, secretary general Mia Golam Parwar, among others, were present.
