DHAKA, July 6, 2023 (BSS) - Lauding the Bangladesh's remarkable socio-economic development under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership, speakers at a programme in Brussels, Belgium said her visionary leadership has transformed Bangladesh into a role model for development with a pledge to build a developed nation by 2041.
 
Expressing concern about the campaigning of a group of opposition parties with vested interests in Bangladesh, they urged the European Union (EU) institutions to remain engaged with the Bangladesh government to diligently scrutinize and refute false information spread by these vested groups.

About the upcoming parliament elections, they said independent Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh will keep an eye on elections so that it could be held in a free and fair manner like other democratic countries of the world.

Mentioning that the government is committed to provide all necessary support to the EC and all responsible political parties are expected to participate in the election process, they said the EC has already announced its willingness to welcome foreign election observers to ensure transparency and fairness in the parliamentary elections.
 
The EU delegation to Bangladesh has already been invited to send election observers to oversee the polls, they added. 

They came up with the remarks at the programme titled "Cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Bangladesh and opportunities for Bangladesh's economy". The Study Circle London and the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) organized the event, a press release received here today.

Study Circle London chairperson Syed Mozammel Ali presented the keynote paper titled 'Bangladesh: The Journey of Indomitable Development'. 

Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium John Cornet d'Elzius, former lawmaker Advocate Tarana Halim, European External Action Service's South Asia Chief Rensje Teerink, Nahim Razzaq, MP, member of the European Parliament Milan Zver,

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president (BGMEA) Faruque Hassan and ambassador of the Bangladesh Embassy in Belgium, Luxembourg and mission to the EU Mahbub Hassan Saleh took part in discussion. 

President of European Institute of Asian Studies (EIAS) Director Lin Goethals gave welcome speech at the programme.

They said under the worthy leadership of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has kept the social, democratic and development indicators as well as economic wheels active.