DHAKA, May 09 (V7N) - A delegation from the US-based Carter Center met with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the party chairperson's Gulshan office this morning.  

The meeting addressed a range of issues, including the current political and economic climate in Bangladesh, the restoration of democracy, and the upcoming parliamentary elections.  

Following the hour-long discussion, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan informed reporters that two key topics were discussed: the overall political situation in Bangladesh and the democratization process.  

He also mentioned that the Carter Center delegation raised the possibility of monitoring the upcoming elections. "If that happens, the main issues discussed are how it can be possible and when," he said.  

Jonathan Stonestreet, Senior Associate Director of the Carter Center's Democracy Program, led the six-member delegation. The other members included Senior Associate Directors Tara Sharif, Michael Baldassaro, Saira Zahedi, Daniel Richards, and Kazi Shahidul Islam.

The BNP Secretary General was accompanied by Abdul Moyeen Khan, Ismail Zabihullah (a member of the Chairperson's Advisory Council), Shama Obaid (Organizing Secretary), and ABM Abdus Sattar (Private Secretary to the Chairperson of the party).

When questioned about whether the meeting discussed a specific election timeframe, Moyeen Khan stated, "I don't want to criticize anyone. I will give a simple example. I also told them what happened in the history of Bangladesh; we saw a caretaker government after the fall of Ershad, which was also an interim government. But they gifted a fair election to crores of people of Bangladesh after 90 days, and till today, no one in Bangladesh criticizes those polls."  

He continued, "Therefore, it should be understood that there is no logic in taking a specific schedule to make the election fair and impartial. The election can be held within 90 days. It has already been nine months. These issues will come up for discussion among the people. If we do not do it, people will not remain silent. There has been a discussion on how quickly it can be done and when BNP expects this election."

Emphasizing that the BNP's stance on the election is clear, the senior BNP leader said, "You know, we have said that if the election is held by the end of this year, it will be acceptable to the people."

He warned that any unnecessary delay could exacerbate the current political, social, and economic instability in Bangladesh. "Therefore, if the stability of the country is disrupted for any reason, it will not be pleasant for the 18 crore people of the country," he added.

"That is why we have put emphasis on true representation of the people... that true representation can be determined only through a fair and impartial election. The sooner that election is held, the better we believe it will be for Bangladesh; we have told them."

The Carter Center, founded by former US President Jimmy Carter in 1982, works to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering worldwide. The delegation's meetings with various political parties are part of their efforts to gather information on the upcoming elections.

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