Khaleda raises political developments with Modi

Dhaka, June 7 A Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief and former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia here.

Khaleda led a six-member team to meet Modi at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel where he was staying in the afternoon.

The delegation held a 45-minute meeting with Modi after which he held a 10-minute meeting with Khaleda separately, the outcome of which is not known.

The BNP delegation discussed Bangladesh's latest political developments with the visiting Indian prime minister.

"We told the Indian premier that there is no democracy and rule of law in the country," BNP standing committee member Abdul Moeen Khan told media after the meeting.

He said they told Modi that immediate elections should be held in Bangladesh with participation of all stakeholders to overcome the situation.

"We also conveyed to him that development is not possible in Bangladesh without democracy," he said.

Moeen Khan said they stressed on boosting people to people ties between Bangladesh and India.

He alleged that BNP leaders and activists are being arrested and repressed indiscriminately, according to media reports in Bangladesh.

BNP standing committee members Tariqul Islam, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdul Moeen Khan, BNP chairperson's advisors Sabihuddin Ahmed and Reaz Rahman were part of the delegation.

"Just days ago, it was uncertain as to whether BNP, who had changed their anti-India stand ahead of Modi's visit, would get a chance to meet the Indian prime minister," said the Daily Star.

The meeting with BNP was held after Modi completed a meeting with leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad, Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu and Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon.

After a 25-minute meeting, Raushan Ershad told reporters that Modi believed that all problems between Bangladesh and India can be solved through discussions between the two countries.

"We thanked Modi's government for the resolution of the 68-year-long standing land boundary problem. We talked about sharing of Teesta waters and border killings," she said.

In response, Modi said to have assured Raushan of "solving all problems soon".

However, there was no discussion between the two leaders on the political violence that had gripped the country earlier this year, Raushan said, Daily Star said.