The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir sat in a closed-door meeting with Canadian high commissioner to Bangladesh Lily Nicholas regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections and the human rights situation in Bangladesh.

The meeting was held at the party chairperson’s political office at Gulshan in Dhaka on Thursday, BNP chairperson’s media wing member Shamsuddin Didar said.

Canadian political counsellor Bradley Coates was present in the meeting.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and organising secretary Shama Obeyed were also present.

In a press release, the High Commission of Canada said that the Canadian high commissioner met with the BNP secretary general and other senior leaders.

‘Among a range of issues, they discussed the importance of free, fair and participatory elections in Bangladesh,’ it read.

‘Elections are about giving citizens a choice in who runs their government. Making a choice requires options; we hope that the upcoming election includes a wide range of voices, debate and dialogue. That way, the people of Bangladesh can choose their own future,’ the release quoted high commissioner Nicholls as remarking.