The US wants to see ‘free, fair and credible’ elections in Bangladesh, the visiting US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal has conveyed the message to a group over a dinner on the first day of her visit.Sujan (Citizens for Good Governance) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar told reporters about the US stand after the dinner meeting at the US ambassador Dan Mozena’s residence on Saturday.
Odhikar Secretary General Adilur Rahman Khan, former foreign secretary Faruk Sobhan, advocate Faujia Karim, journalist Mahfuz Ullah and an adviser of the BRAC’s Institute of Governance Studies Barrister Manzoor Hasan attended the dinner.
The Sujan Secretary said they did not discuss any ‘specific issue’. “It was a social gathering. We discussed all issues.”
“She wanted to know about the Bangladesh’s current situation and its future. We gave our opinions. Everyone expressed their individual views,” he said.
It is Biswal’s first visit to Bangladesh after she became the first official of South Asian origin to hold such a high position in the US State Department. She replaced Robert Blake on Oct 21.
Her visit to Bangladesh comes in the background of a rising political violence over forming the country’s interim government to conduct the polls.
The US has been urging the two major parties –ruling Awami League and opposition BNP – for a dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Majumdar said that Biswal told them that they had ‘no preference’ to any particular party. “They just want to see a free, fair and credible election.”
She came straight from Japan where she attended the India-US-Japan trilateral dialogue in Tokyo.
There are reports that the Indians and the Americans have also discussed the Bangladesh situation on the sidelines of the India-Japan-US trilateral dialogue at Tokyo this week.
However, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran denied any knowledge of discussions in Tokyo on Saturday while replying to a question at a function.
The Sujon Secretary said he believed “they have no intention to meddle in the internal politics of Bangladesh”.
She extolled Bangladesh’s socio-economic development and said if the political conflicts could be resolved, more progress could be achieved.
According to the US state department, Biswal will discuss shared global, regional, and bilateral priorities with the government, opposition, labour, and civil society leaders.
The US GSP issue and the state of the ready-made garment industries are likely to figure in her discussions, besides the key issue of political transition.
She is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and foreign minister Dipu Moni on Sunday.
She will also hold bilateral talks with the Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque before leaving Dhaka on Monday night. – bdnews24.com
