UK Visit Was Successful, Fruitful: PM

"I think that this visit has been very successful and fruitful in the context of socioeconomic development of Bangladesh and through it, the existing good ties between the two countries would reach to a new height," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a crowded press conference at her official Ganobhaban residence here this morning.

The press conference was arranged on the occasion of her just-concluded three-day official tour of the UK to attend the first-ever Girl Summit.

The Bangladesh Premier visited the UK from July 21-23 at the invitation of her British counterpart David Cameron and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

Sheikh Hasina said Britain always remained with Bangladesh for its socioeconomic advancement and in that context the visit was very important.

About her talks with her British counterpart David Cameron, the Prime Minister said the bilateral meeting, held in a very sincere and cordial environment, was one of the achievements of the visit.

"David Cameron mentioned that whatever has happened has happened(in the polls)but we don't want to look at the past, we want to look ahead. As a development partner, our assistance in Bangladesh is continuing and it would continue in future," she said.

Talking about the legitimacy of the January 5 polls by the British government, Sheikh Hasina said the UK government did not reject the elections and her as the Prime Minister. "The UK government would have not invited me to visit London, had the election and me been rejected by them," she said.

In this context, the Prime Minister criticized some media and political parties, posing a question what they want through it? "There is a section of people who does not want peaceful environment in the country and the people remain in peace and comfort," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government restored peace and comfort of the people after the January 5 polls. "The common people can realize it, but a few number of people cannot realize it and my question is that what was their desire and intention," she said.

The Prime Minister said they don't feel comfort that the huge population remains in peace and comfort. "They would become happy if the democratic trend in Bangladesh is disrupted and incidents like Thailand are happened, then they could move raising flag in their car," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said during her talks with the UK Prime Minister, he highly praised Bangladesh's initiatives and achievements in empowerment, freedom and rights of the women.

"He also expressed his interest to visit Bangladesh and wants to see the strategies of these achievements in his own eye," she said.

The prime Minister said David Cameron also mentioned that the UK and Bangladesh are long tested friends and highly lauded our tough stance on uprooting militancy and terrorism.

About the Girl Summit held at Walworth Academy in London on July 22, the Prime Minister said the summit was a milestone in facing a sensitive social challenge like early marriage.

Hasina said she attended high-level session of the summit and spoke about various commitments, work plans and recommendations of the government at global level.

"In the summit, I declared to completely stop early marriage below 15 years by 2021 and reduce the marriage of girls aged 15-18 by one-third," she said.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that a Girl Summit Charter was adopted with a setting of goal of the post-2015 development and its implementation and Bangladesh ratified the charter.

The Prime Minister said she highlighted Bangladesh's initiatives and success in women development and expressed her opinion about the checking early marriage and solving various problems of women empowerment.

First Lady of Burkina Faso, Chantal Compaore, Pakistan's famous education activist Malala Yousafzai and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake also spoke at the session.

The Prime Minister said during her visit, leaders of the All Party British Parliamentary Group, UK Minister of State for International Development Desmond Swayne, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake called on her.

Besides, Shadow Foreign Secretary of the UK Douglas Alexander, and Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee of British House of Commons Keith Vaz called on the Prime Minister at her hotel suite.

Renowned journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury as well as a number of leading Bangladeshi journalists working in the UK met the Prime Minister at her hotel suite.

She said she addressed a discussion before an iftar mahfil arranged by UK chapter Awami League at London Hilton Hotel on Monday evening. "I also gave interviews with BBC World Radio and BBC Bangla Service," she said.

The Prime Minister said Douglas Alexander highly appreciated her leading role in climate change issues since Copenhagen Summit and said he is looking forward to her similar role in COP 21 to be held in Paris.

Praising the economic advancement of Bangladesh, Douglas said the country is marching forward. He also lauded her participation in the Girl Summit, 2014 as they have full support to the movement of ending child and forced marriage as well as female genital mutilation (FGM). Sheikh Hasina said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake described her as the "symbol of liberal progressive global leader" and highly appreciated her for her government steps to protect child rights.

Lauding Bangladesh for its success in achieving MDGs, Lake said he sees Bangladesh "green" while seeing the MDG chart.

The Prime Minister said he also highly eulogized her commitment to stop child marriage in Bangladesh by 2041 and vowed to work together to fulfill the pledge.

She said she called upon the UK government to set up an international- standard testing laboratory in Bangladesh for energy solution in a meeting with UK Minister of State for International Development Desmond Swayne.

She said the British state minister highly appreciated Bangladesh's continued success in achieving the MDGs. "Desmond Swayne also made a pledge to continue the DFID's assistance in the development of women and child education as well as removing poverty," she said.

The Prime Minister said she congratulated Desmond Swayne on her election as a British state minister for the first time.

About her meeting with Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee of British House of Commons Keith Vaz, she said the British MP mentioned that British Prime Minister David Cameron would be undoubtedly grateful to the Bangladesh Prime Minister as she is not only a female Prime Minister, but also such a global leader working throughout her life for women development and gained notable success.

The British MP also said that he would soon write a letter to David Cameron highlighting the participation of Sheikh Hasina as one of the main reasons for success of the Girl Summit.

Citing some recent decisions of the British government relating to foreign marriage and visa processing, Vaz said he had already talked with other British legislators over the issue and has been working cautiously so that the Bangladeshi-born British citizens are not affected.

The Prime Minister said her government has been working to build a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041. "We want a democratic Bangladesh free from war criminals and militants," she said.

About the trial of war criminals, the Prime Minister said the trial of the 1971 culprits is going on and verdict is being executed. "It would be completed like the way we have implemented the verdict of the killers of Bangabandhu," she said.

Pointing out the maritime victory over Myanmar and India, Sheikh Hasina said the people of Bangladesh are now the owners of oil, gas, fish and biodiversity of vast sea areas. An immense potentiality has been created through extracting and maintenance of these resources, she said.

Talking about the much-awaited Padma Bridge, the prime Minister said the bridge is no more a dream. "We have pledged that we would start its work with our own funding and we have been able to keep our promise by launching its work with own funding," she said.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)