Ambassador Ziauddin meets Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute

UsaNewsOnline.com : Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin met Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), a world reputed think tank in Washington DC on 12 February.

Bangladesh Ambassador Ziauddin and NDI President Wollack discussed among others, democracy, human rights, transparency, religious extremism and counter-terrorism etc.

Discussing the present political situation in Bangladesh, Ambassador Ziauddin said that the present struggle is against extremists, perpetrators of the crimes against humanity and the anti-liberation forces in Bangladesh.

Ambassador Ziauddin stated the genesis of Bangladesh Awami League as a political party created by the people vis-a-vis the other political parties created under the patronization of the military rulers after the brutal killing of the Father of Nation. Post 1975, military autocrats systematically provided impunity to the killers of the Father of the Nation and deliberately reinstated the religious and the anti-liberation forces into politics, he added.

Bangladesh Ambassador Ziauddin said that the people of Bangladesh are secular and have been living in peace and harmony for centuries. Ambassador informed that the present government under the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed “zero tolerance” against all forms of extremism and terrorism. Bangladesh under the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working closely with its’ neighbors as well as the United States and all other friendly countries to eliminate extremism and terrorism from within its’ borders and beyond.

Ambassador Ziauddin discussed the constitutional obligations and other perspectives of holding the 10^th national parliamentary elections. As the Awami League was voted to power with clear majority, the Government of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working hard to bring qualitative changes in the lives of the people of Bangladesh, he added.

NDI President Wollack, who is a key policy contributor to the Democratic stream in the Unites States, stressed on finding a solution or a way out of the political crisis in Bangladesh.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack appreciated the economic and social successes in Bangladesh. He assured that the National Democratic Institution (NDI) is ready to extend all possible help in support of strengthening democracy in Bangladesh.

Peter M. Manikas, Senior Associate & Director for Asia of the NDI and Nayem Uddin Ahmed, Counselor Political of the Embassy were present during the meeting.