Permanent Undersecretary at the Foreign Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service of the United Kingdom, Michael Jay voiced his government's concern at a meeting with Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina at the latter's Sudha Sadan residence in Dhanmondi.

Emerging from the hour-long meeting, Sir Jay said,"We've discussed socio-political situation in Bangladesh. We feel this is necessary that two major parties work together for development of the country."

He was accompanied by British High Commissioner in Dhaka Anwar Chowdhury, Head of the South Asia Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Stephen Smith and Political Councilor Allan Shaw.

In response to Jay's views, the Awami League (AL) leadership told him that after the August 21 carnage, they went to parliament and wanted an 'institutional dialogue' on it, but the government did not allow.

"If the opposition is not given the minimum space to function, how could democracy flourish?" Political Secretary to the AL president Saber Hossain Chowdhury quoted the meeting as saying.

Saber said besides the August 21 grenade blasts, the huge arms hauls in Chittagong and Bogra and grenade attack on British envoy Anwar Chowdhury were among the other issues discussed.

The AL side told the British delegation that these incidents are not isolated, but rather intertwined.

"They told us that they would communicate their concern about these incidents to the government", Saber added.

The AL leaders also told that the government remains indifferent to extremist Islamic groups though they (extremists) are a clear and present danger to the nation.

"If the government were sincere enough, they would have at least acknowledged the existence of the terrorist outfits," Saber said adding that, it will not be possible to combat terrorism as long as the government is in a denial mode.

AL leaders Abdul Jalil, Kazi Jafarullah, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Syed Abul Hossain and former diplomats Mahmud Ali and M Ziauddin aided the opposition leader.