State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam. Star file photo

UNB, Dhaka

Tue Nov 15, 2022 11:45 PM Last update on: Wed Nov 16, 2022 12:53 AM

The government would take appropriate steps if any foreign diplomat crosses the line, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam yesterday.

He described Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki's recent comments on Bangladesh's election "unexpected" and said Bangladesh would convey its message to Japan regarding the matter.

On Monday, Ambassador Naoki said he heard about the example of "ballot box stuffing" and some police officers stuffed the ballot box the previous night which is something he had never heard in any other country.

He said the Japanese side never raised such an issue over the last four years in any bilateral meeting or any level of discussion.

Even it was not mentioned in the statement issued by the Japanese embassy after the 2018 elections, Alam said.

Recalling 2018 election, Ambassador Naoki said the Japanese embassy in Dhaka had issued a statement of concern which was very unusual for his country though it was focused more on violence.

The state minister hoped that common sense would prevail in the days to come and the diplomats would act accordingly.

"When we will see it's crossing the line, we are saying very clearly and loudly that we will take appropriate steps," he said.

The state minister said he has nothing else to say beyond this, specially about the very friendly country Japan.

He said the government is committed to hold a free and fair election and the Election Commission is working to that end.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Monday said they expect that the next national election in Bangladesh will be held in a "free and fair" manner with the participation of all major political parties.

"We expect the next election will be a better one. Free and fair elections need to be done here. That's my strong hope," he said while responding to a question at an event titled "Meet the Ambassador" held in a Dhaka hotel.

-Daily Star