Dec 30 Election: US concerned at reports of anomalies
The US yesterday expressed concern over credible reports on election irregularities, including harassment, intimidation and violence that “marred Bangladesh's recent election”.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green made the statement as he held talks with Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque in Washington DC.
Tom Babington, acting spokesperson of the administrator, in a statement said Green also pressed for the Bangladesh government to pursue every avenue to bring to justice the killers of USAID employee Xulhaz Mannan who was murdered in Dhaka around three years ago.
The two officials discussed strong friendship and alliance between the two countries along with the Rohingya refugee crisis and the upcoming conference on human rights to be hosted by the Bangladesh foreign ministry.
Green thanked Bangladesh for hosting over one million Rohingya refugees, some 750,000 of whom fled brutal military campaign by Myanmar military since August, 2017.
Noting Bangladesh's ambition to accelerate economic growth and attract foreign investment, he emphasised on the important roles that “citizen-responsive governance”, transparency, the respect for human rights, and strong democratic institutions play in creating a conducive environment for business.
Dhaka, meanwhile, conveyed to Washington the new government's priorities that include eliminating corruption and ensuring good governance by maintaining a strong policy of 'zero tolerance'.
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, who is in Washington DC for political consultation to apprise the priorities, roadmap and vision of the new government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, held talks with top US officials.
Shahidul said the present Bangladesh government looks forward to expanding the existing friendly ties with the USA in a multi-sectoral context, said a press release of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC yesterday.
He noted that the recent internal situation in Northern Rakhine was aggravating the prolonged Rohingya crisis. He emphasised on the responsibility of Myanmar to create the right conditions for Rohingya repatriation in the Rakhine state and sought the US's support in resolving the crisis.
Shahidul further said Bangladesh would be happy to offer one of its special economic zones to US investors if they come forward.
The US officials assured full support in finding the solution of the Rohingya crisis.
The foreign secretary also held meetings with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador David Hale; Ambassador Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asia Bureau; Ambassador Michael Kozak, Office Chief, Bureau of Democracy, Rights and Labour; Acting Assistant Secretary Carol Thomson O'Connell, Population, Refugee and Migration Bureau; Ambassador at Large John Cotton Richmond, Office Chief, Trafficking in person; and Ambassador at Large Nathan Sales, Counterterrorism Bureau and Counterterrorism Coordinator.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Mohammad Ziauddin, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC, accompanied the foreign secretary during the meetings.
The foreign secretary was due to meet with the representatives of the National Cotton Council and Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary, Asia Pacific, US Department of Defense yesterday. The two sides were expected to discuss arms procurement among others with defence officials, officials said.