The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina yesterday hoped that there would be no controversy over the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held today.

Hasina made this comment at a meeting with a three-member delegation of British parliamentarians at her Sudha Sadan residence.

Former Ambassador Mohammad Jamir, who attended the meeting, said "Sheikh Hasina expects there will not be any controversy over the Dec 29 election."

Paula Monjila Uddin, a member of the delegation told reporters after the meeting that they were hoping that the Dec 29 election would be held in free and fair manner.

British High Commissioner Stefan Evans was also present in the meeting.

Earlier in the morning a seven-member delegation of the International Republican Institute met with the AL chief.

Besides this Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed deep shock and concern over the killing of civilians, including women and children, in Israeli air attack in Gaza.

"We believe that the Middle East crisis could be resolved in a peaceful way through discussion," the former prime minister said in a statement on the latest Israeli attack in the Palestinian Gaza strip that killed more than 200 people.

Sheikh Hasina also called upon both sides to restrain from the bloodshed and to establish peace and human rights.