Opposition leader Khaleda Zia insisted Wednesday that there could be no resolution of Bangladesh's growing political crisis unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed to stand down and allow new elections.
"Every conscious and conscientious person in Bangladesh knows that the only way to resolve the current political crisis is to hold an inclusive, competitive and meaningful election," Zia said by phone in an exclusive interview with AFP.
"The more quickly it can be arranged, the better it is for everyone. If it is delayed, the crisis could become even more complex," she said in her first interview with Western media since she was confined to her office more than a month ago.