Newly appointed foreign minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said that both the East and the West had expressed eagerness to work with the new government formed through the January 7 national election although some countries had concerns over the polls.

Assuming his office at the foreign ministry, he said that the foreign ministry was a challenging ministry in the global perspective.

‘Many countries have already congratulated the new government here. Questions are raised against election in every country. Different countries have different narratives. But what is important is that both the East and the West have expressed eagerness to work with us,’ said, Hasan Mahmud, who served as the information minister in the outgoing cabinet of Sheikh Hasina.

He said that they wanted to lead the country forward with the cooperation of both the East and the West.

He claimed that the election was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

The foreign minister said that they would value the concerns raised by some countries about the national polls.

The United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom in separate statements said that the national elections in Bangladesh were not free and fair.

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina took over as prime minister for the fourth consecutive term and formed her cabinet on January 11 through the 12 Parliamentary Election marked by low turnout of voters and ballot stuffing amid boycott by major opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.