In a clear signal of international attention on Bangladesh’s political landscape, several Western diplomats held back-to-back meetings with Bangladesh National Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday, discussing the upcoming elections and prospects for a peaceful democratic transition.
The newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T Christensen, paid a courtesy call on Tarique Rahman at his Gulshan office in the capital at 4:00pm, according to BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. The meeting included senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, Advisory Council member Mahdi Amin, and press secretary Saleh Shibly. Several US Embassy officials also attended.
“I met today with BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman to hear his perspective on upcoming elections,” said the US Ambassador after the meeting.
In brief remarks through his verified ‘X’ handle, he said the United States looks forward to working with all Bangladeshi political parties to advance shared peace and prosperity.
Later in the afternoon, European diplomats, led by European Union Ambassador Michael Miller, visited Tarique Rahman. Ambassadors from Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, and Italy joined the delegation, highlighting Europe’s coordinated diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh’s main opposition leader.
The morning saw Canadian High Commissioner Ajit Singh meet Tarique Rahman and the BNP leadership. The discussion centred on ensuring a “peaceful and inclusive” democratic transition through the upcoming elections. High Commissioner Singh emphasised Canada’s commitment to working with both the interim government and the next elected administration to strengthen bilateral ties, citing ongoing reforms in economic, financial, judicial, and labour sectors.
“These meetings underscore the interest of Western countries in Bangladesh’s political stability and the integrity of its electoral process,” Sayrul Kabir Khan said. Matters of mutual interest, including democratic governance and electoral transparency, were reportedly discussed during the hour-long Canadian meeting, which began around 11:30am. BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir and Chairman’s Adviser Mahdi Amin were also present.
The series of high-level visits reflects a growing diplomatic focus on Bangladesh ahead of its national elections, signalling that international actors are closely monitoring developments and maintaining open channels with both the ruling and opposition parties.