The government will sit for dialogues with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) if the party agrees to partake in the upcoming national elections, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Prime Minister Salman F Rahman said today.

"If BNP participates in the elections, there will be a dialogue with them. Dialogue can be held with them on how to make elections fairer and better. However, the caretaker government has been cancelled by the High Court and there will be no dialogue about it with BNP," he said following his meeting with UK Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston MP on Wednesday (5 July). 

At the end of the meeting, Salman F Rahman told reporters, "90% of the talks were about trade and business. However, while talking about the Rohingya issue, politics has been discussed. The UK wants free and fair elections. They talked about dialogue with opposition parties."

"We have strengthened the Election Commission. The government is committed to fair elections. Our EC is independent. The fact that many city corporation elections have been free and fair is proof of that. We have agreed to dialogue with the opposition parties but they (BNP) have to partake in the elections," he added. 

Regarding the election, he also said, "Government wants free fair elections, wants dialogue; and is prepared for constructive dialogue, elections will be held in accordance with the constitution. The caretaker government will not be discussed. There is no option but to participate in the elections, this needs to be understood by the opposition."

"There will be an expansion of trade with the United Kingdom. There has been talk about buying Airbus from the United Kingdom. After GSP, DCTS scheme will open up new possibilities for Bangladesh-UK trade. Along with large industries, small and medium entrepreneurs will also benefit from the tariff benefits," he further said.