The criticism came at a briefing on Bangladesh at the US Congress in the Washington DC where the US Congressional leaders recommended Bangladesh's inclusion in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and allocated about $100 million in assistance for Bangladesh to be disbursed through the USAID this year.

If included in the programme, the quantum of US development assistance to Bangladesh is expected to be doubled within a year.

At the meeting, overall political, social and human rights issues came up for discussion that witnessed both appreciation and criticism. In a report placed before the briefing, country's political and social issues received mild criticism while empowerment of women and social sector development was highly appreciated.

The congressional hearing expressed doubt over the election system of the country and proposed for UN election observation.

Congressman Joseph Crowley, presiding over the session organised by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, urged the US administration to help Bangladesh sustain its democratic and economic strides through increased development assistance.

Crowley said Bangladesh should be included in the MCA assistance programme as it has demonstrated a strong ability to effectively apply development funds.

A panel of administration officials were present to brief the Congress on recent developments in Bangladesh that included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia John Gastright and USAID Mission Director for Bangladesh Gene George.

The second session constituted by independent experts including NDI Resident Director in Bangladesh Owen Lippert, South Asia expert at the US Institute of Peace Christine Fair and US Chapter of the Amnesty International T Kumar.

Awami League's senior leader Suranjit Sengupta and top US leaders of ruling BNP and AL were present at the briefing.

After the hearing, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and Suranjit Sengupta met Crowley. Khan was not present at the hearing.

The BNP leaders expressed their satisfaction over the hearing but Suranjit told BDNEWS that the report placed before the hearing did not reflect the reality. "The report did not contain adequate information."

Deputy Assistant Secretary John Gastright said Bangladesh has "a democracy that has been most notable over the years for its moderate approach."

He, however, stated that Bangladesh has some problems relating to the broad governance issue and the US policy would be to point out those problems "sympathetically" as a friend.

He applauded the recent action by the government to ban two extremist groups and commended government's recent actions to protect the rights of Ahmadiyyas.

UNB adds: The United States said that democracy in Bangladesh is vibrant but cited some issues involved in the country.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told a questioner at a regular press briefing in Washington that he does not have anything new on the status of democracy in Bangladesh.