Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said her government has been working to institutionalise democracy in Bangladesh as it believes in democracy and participatory elections.

She said this when newly appointed French Ambassador Marie-Annick Bourdin met her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.

PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting, reports the UNB.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the elections including the local government ones taken place under the present government were fair and free. ‘Even candidates of the ruling party also suffered defeat in those elections,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said that it is the people who choose who will be there in power.

Talking about democratic history of the country, Hasina said the journey of Bangladesh democracy was not pleasant. ‘After the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 15, 1975, the country witnessed 20 military coups,’ she said.

Referring to the Rohingya issue, she said more than one million refugees are now living in Bangladesh, which is a big burden for the country.

Welcoming the newly appointed Ambassador to Bangladesh, the PM recalled the French support during the Liberation War of the country.

She also recalled her meetings with various French top leaders on various occasions, and mentioned her last visit to France to attend the One Planet Summit saying that Bangladesh wants the implementation of the Paris deal.

Marie-Annick Bourdin said France supported Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue and it will continue its support by also providing food aid and NGO mobilisation.

She expressed her country’s solidarity over the fight against terrorism and extreme violence.

Bourdin said Bangladesh and France have been enjoying very good relations since Bangladesh’s independence.