Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said the European Union (EU) would cooperate in bringing back the money, siphoned off abroad from the country during the Awami League (AL) regime.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said this to media after a meeting with EU Acting Ambassador Dr Bernd Spanier at the party chairperson's political office in the capital's Gulshan area on Monday.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led the party delegation in the meeting. BNP Organising Secretary and international affairs committee member Shama Obaid was also present.

Asked whether BNP wanted any investigation into the allegation of embezzlement of a huge amount of money by Sheikh Hasina, Amir Khasru replied, "Certainly there will be an investigation. We (BNP and EU) have also discussed about it."

"A huge amount of money was siphoned off. We have discussed about bringing back over US$ 100 billion, sent abroad through different channels (during the Awami League government)."

"In the meeting, we have suggested working with all (to bring back the money), and the EU has agreed on this."

The BNP leader said they also discussed about the country's changing political scenario, including its economic aspects and future.

"We have discussed how and in which areas the EU could provide its help to Bangladesh, as the country has got stuck, along with its cooperation for ensuring good governance here."

"We have also talked about bringing back order in the institutions (destroyed during the AL regime) and making those functional."

Amir Khasru noted that they talked about export to the EU along with the agreements signed between Bangladesh and the EU on financial reforms.

"There is no alternative to election for returning back to democracy, and we have also discussed about it," he added.