Dhaka – Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday said the United States is awaiting an official explanation from the Bangladesh government on the way the January 5 elections are going to be held next year.
Muhith stated this after a meeting with US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena at his Secretariat office.
The Finance Minister told the reporters that during the nearly two hours meeting US Ambassador Dan Mozena discussed the overall election process, recent violence over the parliamentary polls as well as economic condition of the country and the Grameen Bank issue.
Replying to a query, he said Mozena asked him what is the government’s plan under the circumstances after holding such an election (154 candidates being elected uncontested).
Muhith said he could not tell the US ambassador anything right now as discussion is going on between the two major parties and the situation will become clearer after the dialogue comes to an end.
He said: “No election was held in half of the country. We, especially me, are concerned about it.”
Muhith quoted Mozena as saying that ‘election means casting votes by the people. It is not happening’
The Finance Minister also said that the United States is waiting for a statement from the government on how it would face such a situation.
Replying to a question from the reporters, he said: “Of course, after January 5 they are likely to form the government.”
Asked whether the US will feel uncomfortable to work with a government elected in such a way, Muhith said: “I cannot say about this. They are waiting for the government reaction about the current nature of election.”
He said that during the meeting, he had described the Jamaat-e-Islami as a terrorist outfit and stressed banning it.
He, however, said that Jamaat should not be banned right now as in that case “this terrorist outfit may go underground.”
“Mozena did not disagree with it,” the Finance Minister said when asked about the US stance.
He said the economic activities of the country have been seriously affected by the shutdowns and blockades.
Calling the current opposition programme as a terrorist movement, Muhith said all the economic indicators have been going down.
About the readymade garment (RMG) industry, he said the RMG sector not only earns foreign exchange it also generates huge number of employment.
The Finance Minister said the opposition movement has been seriously hampering the RMG sector.
The government is going to take steps in this regard, he told Mozena. Muhith said that apart from improving the law and order, the government has been considering other possible incentives for the RMG industry.
He said that the day’s meeting with the US ambassador was fixed earlier.
Asked whether he will become the finance minister again after January 5, Muhith said the Prime Minister will decide about it.
Asked whether he is interested to take up the position again, Muhith said he would not say anything right now, but if he is offered the post of the finance minister again he will take decision after consulting the matter with his well-wishers. – UNB
