"The US government views the next parliamentary elections in Bangladesh as a critical opportunity to strengthen democratic politics and governance in Bangladesh," the State Department said in a statement.

"The US supports free, fair, non-violent, and credible elections in Bangladesh. Our support is for the process, not for any political party," the statement said.

Bangladesh's main opposition Awami League and its allies have threatened to boycott the polls unless the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) replaces the proposed interim administration chief and top election officials they accuse of being pro-government.

The BNP is due to hand over power to the interim administration on October 28.

The two main parties have held five round of talks since October 5, but have been unable to reach a consensus on the electoral reforms. A sixth round is planned for October 23.

"The make-up of Bangladesh's caretaker government is a decision that the Bangladesh people must make following the constitution," the State Department said.

The United States was encouraged that Bangladesh's major political parties had engaged in dialogue to try to resolve their differences on the elections, the department said, noting that the talks are going on.

"Our focus is on the entire political process -- not simply on election day events," it said.

An independent US panel on religious freedom earlier this week expressed concern over growing Islamist militancy in Bangladesh and called for measures to ensure that the country's democratic electoral process took place without violence.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan federal agency, called on Washington to urge the Bangladesh authorities "to make every effort to prevent violence before and after the election."

During a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin at the State department on the day, US Acting Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said the United States respects Bangladeshis for their commitment to democracy and expressed confidence that the forthcoming general elections would be free and fair polls.

They had an hour-long meeting mainly on bilateral issues when the two Secretaries expressed satisfaction at the growing cooperation between Dhaka and Washington, UNB quoting a message from Bangladesh Mission in Washington said.

Burns stressed the importance of Bangladesh in US Foreign policy. He said that US considered Bangladesh a very important partner in the region and that the US government was committed to work harder to further strengthen the existing relationship.

Burns assured Hemayetuddin that he and the US government would always be forthcoming in increasing cooperation with Bangladesh in whatever areas of cooperation that Bangladesh would desire.

Burns congratulated the Bangladesh government's determined efforts in combating terrorism and said that US government deeply appreciated the effective measures taken by the Bangladesh government in this regard.

Reciprocating Burns sentiments, Hemayet said that Bangladesh considered the US as a close and trusted friend and that continued efforts to strengthen the existing friendly bilateral relations and cooperation with the USA was an important part of Bangladesh foreign policy.

Hemayet said Bangladesh and its people were appreciative of the continued support and assistance received form the US.

He assured Burns of Bangladesh 's all out support in combating global terrorism and to the international community's efforts for nuclear disarmament.