China’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, has said that Beijing was unable to maintain communication with BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami over the past decade due to restrictions during the previous government’s rule.
He emphasised that China is now taking steps to re-establish ties and resume political exchanges with the two opposition parties.
Speaking at the “DCAB Talk” event organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club on Tuesday, Yao said: “Frankly speaking, there were obstacles to communicating with BNP and Jamaat for 10 years. Now is the time to reconnect. We want to revive exchanges and restore contact.”
His remarks follow recent high-level visits by both BNP and Jamaat delegations to China.
BNP’s team, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, toured Beijing last month at the invitation of the Communist Party of China. Earlier this month, Jamaat’s Ameer Shafiqur Rahman visited China with a party delegation.
When asked how these restrictions were imposed during the Awami League era, Yao refrained from details but said, “I believe journalists here know what the situation was like. I don’t need to elaborate further.”
The DCAB event was chaired by its President AKM Moinuddin, with General Secretary Arifuzzaman Mamun delivering the welcome address.
