Ambassadors from three Nordic countries met with Saber Hossain Chowdhury, former Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of the ousted Awami League government, amid the political heat surrounding the 13th National Parliament elections.

They are: Norwegian Ambassador to Dhaka Haakon Arald Gulbransen, Swedish Ambassador Nikolas Linus Ragnar Weeks, and Danish Ambassador Christian Brix Moller.

These three states are all Scandinavian countries, which have been long-standing partners with Bangladesh on climate change, sustainable development, and human rights.

A reliable source confirmed that the meeting was held in complete secrecy at Saber Hossain Chowdhury's residence in Gulshan, the capital, on Monday (October 6).

The source said that during the meeting, the diplomats wanted to know from Saber Chowdhury whether the banned Awami League party had any plans to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. In addition, the two sides also discussed how to restart the party's activities.

Diplomats from the Nordic countries said that foreign diplomats would have no objection if the current government and other political parties, as the largest party, allowed members of the Awami League with a clean image, to participate in the elections. Rather, they believe that it would completely maintain a level playing field in the election. Although neither side has officially disclosed what was discussed at the meeting.

Earlier, on the evening of May 11, US Charge d'Affaires in Dhaka Tracy Ann Jacobson met with former Awami League MP Saber Hossain Chowdhury. It was reported at the time that the US ambassador had discussed Awami League activities with Saber Hossain in the meeting held five months ago, which was held in strict secrecy. At the time, the US embassy did not want to reveal anything about the topics discussed in the meeting, but claimed that they continue to engage in dialogue with all parties, which is part of their long-standing diplomatic practice.

According to political analysts, the political situation in Bangladesh is still turbulent. After being ousted from power in the August uprising last year, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took refuge in India, and since then, the political party led by her, the Awami League, has been going through instability and uncertainty about their future politics. The interim government formed as a result of the student-public movement is led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, but despite the presence of global figures like him, there are various political tensions in the country. The interim government has banned the activities of the Awami League, and the party is unable to come to their public activities. In such a context, the incident of yesterday's meeting of three foreign ambassadors with Saber Hossain Chowdhury has created new curiosity in the political and diplomatic arena.

Secret meeting: The meeting, which began at 2:55 pm yesterday at Saber Hossain Chowdhury's residence in Gulshan-2, Dhaka, lasted for about two hours in utmost secrecy. Three foreign ambassadors participated in it.

Reliable sources said that the three ambassadors entered Saber Hossain's residence in the same car without a flag, that is, without any diplomatic signature. To avoid attention, they left the residence after the meeting and left using an alternative route. Such secrecy is not usually followed in ordinary diplomatic meetings.

However, sources say that since the Awami League's political position is currently fragile, there was no choice but to keep the meeting secret. The source also said that the meeting discussed the Awami League's future political strategy, international support and the country's political stability.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury was arrested after the change of government in August last year. After he was released on bail, the US ambassador-in-charge secretly met with him at his residence on the evening of May 11. At that time, reliable sources told Kalbela that the meeting discussed in detail how the US ambassador-in-charge could return to political activities through internal reforms in the Awami League party.

Current Context: According to political analysts, to understand the meeting of three foreign ambassadors with Saber Hossain Chowdhury yesterday, it is important to keep in mind the current position of the Awami League. In August 2024, the student-public movement ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule. Since then, thousands of party leaders and activists have been arrested and even killed.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury himself was arrested from Gulshan in October 2024, in six cases, including a murder case. Although he was later released from prison on bail, many Awami League leaders have left the country and sought refuge abroad in the emerging situation.

The three countries of Northern Europe, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, are known as Scandinavian countries. And now the five countries of Northern Europe, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, are called Nordic countries. Scandinavian countries are the largest development partners of Bangladesh. From funds created to combat the adverse effects of climate change to monitoring the human rights situation, they are present. Nordic-Bangladesh relations have matured and expanded in the past decades.

According to a source familiar with Monday's meeting, Saber Hossain Chowdhury himself, as a former environment minister, has maintained close contact with these countries.

Attempts were made to contact Saber Hossain Chowdhury through various channels to get his comment on the matter, but it was not possible to speak to him.