US envoy hopes polls to be held in time

US Ambassador James F Moriarty yesterday hoped that the planned elections in Bangladesh would be held in time.
“I have heard nothing to the contrary, and the government understands the need to move ahead with the preparation for it,” the envoy told reporters after he called on Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the foreign ministry yesterday.
They were learnt to have discussed bilateral relations, trade, political issues and development cooperation.
"This was my first meeting with him, and I am extremely pleased with his commitment to his responsibilities," Iftekhar told the newsmen.
"Bangladesh and the US have a strategic partnership and many common interests. We discussed modalities and methods of how to take them forward," he said.
The US ambassador further said, "We discussed a broad range of subjects. I was very impressed by his knowledge of the issues. We talked of moving relations in a positive direction."
A US embassy release said that ambassador Moriarty also asked about the status of the democratic roadmap and repeated his message of support for the 3 Ds: democracy, development, and denial of space to terrorists.