The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

UK Minister of State for Asia, Africa and the UN Lord Mark Malloch Brown arrives here today (Wednesday) on a 3-day official visit to Bangladesh.

The British Minister will call on the Chief Adviser, the Foreign Affairs Adviser, the Home Affairs Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff and senior figures from two main political parties during the visit Brown will also meet a range of senior civil society figures, as well as meet Bangladeshi members of UN Peacekeeping forces, and hold a roundtable with human rights defenders Ahead of his visit, Brown said, "At this critical point in Bangladesh' s history, attention has to be on achieving a smooth, peaceful transition to an elected government in 2008 and securing lasting, sustainable democracy thereafter. "

He said the UK's interests in this country, like those of the Bangladeshi people, depend on establishing a stable and democratic Bangladesh.

Brown said "What's at stake - the future development of Bangladesh and its people - is too important to risk a return to the politics of violence and confrontation. That's why we encourage all sides to create conditions conducive to holding credible elections, to engage constructively with the democratic process, to commit to participation in elections, and to embrace and consolidate the positive institutional reforms that have taken place during the last two years."

The British Minister said strong democracies need strong institutions. They also need parties that are prepared to work with others constructively and consensually.

Brown's visit to Bangladesh is the sixth by a UK Minister in the last ten months, underlining the importance attached to the bilateral relationship between the UK and Bangladesh, and the new heights that it has attained.