The Bangladesh Nationalist Party said on Thursday that Switzerland was ready to cooperate with any initiative taken by the Bangladesh government to recover laundered money and democracy.
鈥榃e had a conversation with the Swiss ambassador. They wanted to know about the new political and economic landscape and the future of Bangladesh. They inquired about the direction in which Bangladesh was heading and sought to know our views on the matter,鈥� BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said following a meeting with the Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh, Reto Renggli.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led party delegates in the meeting held at the BNP chairperson鈥檚 Gulshan office.
Following the meeting, the Swiss Embassy said on a Facebook post that ambassador Reto Renggli met with BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, following an earlier meeting with representatives of the foreign affairs committee of the BNP, to learn about the party鈥檚 take on the current political developments in Bangladesh.
鈥極n the question of mutual legal assistance, the ambassador replied that Switzerland is always willing to cooperate in compliance with globally recognised procedures and standards and in line with proposals it has put forward in recent years,鈥� it said.
Khasru said that they had exchanged views on how Bangladesh鈥檚 institutions had collapsed and what could be done to restore them. 鈥榃e discussed how to bring the destroyed institutions back on track and make them functional again. Switzerland has assured us of their cooperation in this regard.鈥�
Regarding the issue of recovering laundered money, Amir Khasru said that the Swiss government had reiterated their earlier position and assured that the country would welcome and cooperate with any initiative the Bangladesh government takes to bring back laundered money.
Asked if the discussion touched upon the interim government, he said that foreign ambassadors often discuss the interim government and seek information.
鈥榃e have consistently said that the people of Bangladesh are the rightful owners of this country. The interim government will facilitate elections within a specified time,鈥� he said.
He said that the people of Bangladesh would exercise their right to vote and choose their representatives. This is the fundamental principle of democracy.
He said that the current government would do this within a reasonable timeframe, adding that there is no reason to oppose the interim government or any other related matters.
鈥榃e are providing support to the interim government in this regard,鈥� he added.
