Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, centre, welcomes German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, right, at the Dhaka airport yesterday. Westerwelle is accompanied by a business delegation on his tour

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle yesterday called upon Bangladeshi political leaders to work together to further strengthen democracy and establish rule of law in the Muslim-majority South Asian country.
“Free and fair election, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are the central pillar of democracy and we urge all political actors to work together to strengthen democracy and rule of law,” Westerwelle said at a joint press conference with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Dipu Moni, after official talks.
Westerwelle, on a two-day visit in Dhaka, expressed concern about recent killings of political activists and human rights violations in Bangladesh, and said he expected the cases would be investigated and the perpetrators be brought to justice.
The ruling Awami League of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party of former prime minister Khaleda Zia have been at loggerheads over the method of the country’s next generation election, scheduled for early 2014.
The opposition has taken to the street, demanding restoration of a system whereby a non-partisan administration conducts the polls, as has happened in the last three national elections. The Awami League opposes bringing that system back.
The street protests left many people dead over the past two years.
The German minister, who is also accompanied by a high-level business team, will seek investment prospect in Bangladesh as well as discussing co-operation on the areas of climate change, energy security, renewable energy, health services, good governance and justice and law reforms.
The minister assured German’s support to Bangladesh, one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects, in its fight for protection.
“We share strong commitments to reach a new globally binding agreement on climate protection,” Westerwelle said. Meeting between Westerwelle with Hasina and members of civil society are also scheduled.
Germany, which provided Bangladesh with more than $2.5bn in development assistance in 40 years of their diplomatic relations, last week signed an agreement to support Bangladesh with $75mn in soft loans for a power project. DPA