Britain has emphasized on the importance of free and fair election in Bangladesh and political space for the opposition.

The UK high commission Alison Blake made the comment at the National Press Club on Tuesday while she attended DCAB Talk organized by Diplomatic Correspondent Association, Bangladesh.

“We believe strongly in inclusive and participatory free and fair elections,” she said adding, “Will continue to encourage a peaceful way forward, and encourage dialogue between all political parties in Bangladesh.”

About Rohingya issue she said, there must be accountability for the crimes that have been committed and they deserve justice.

“We have been cooperating with the fact-finding mission that the Human Rights Council established. So we are working with our colleagues to look at an effective way to hold those who are responsible and it is a complex set of issue,” she said.

About extradition requests, she said, “This is sort of mutual assistance goes on countries across the world. It is something that we try to keep out of the political arena and judge it as a judicial and legal process, not a political one.”

She said England does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh and that’s why all request are dealt with on its own merits.

It is an area that is taken very seriously and that comes under the purview of the home secretary in England, she said.

“In making any determination, she [home secretary] takes advise, including from the foreign office, but also independent assesses about all the circumstances,” she said.