The United States (US) yesterday said it hopes that the conditions in Bangladesh will allow total withdrawal of the state of emergency at some point prior to the elections.
The US welcomed the chief adviser's statement that the state of emergency and Emergency Power Rules will be relaxed or repealed to ensure conditions conducive to free, fair and credible elections.
"We share the hope of the people of Bangladesh that conditions in the country will allow the total repeal of the state of emergency at some point prior to the elections," a spokesman for the US Embassy in Dhaka said in a full-dress reaction to the chief adviser's address to the nation.
"We look forward to seeing free, fair and credible elections this December," the spokesperson said, adding, "We believe that local government elections are an important part of a democratic Bangladesh. The timing of these elections is a matter for the government of Bangladesh and its people to decide."
The spokesman said the US believes that the government, political parties, civil society and the media have important roles to play in ensuring free, fair and credible elections for the people of Bangladesh. Compromise is an integral part of a healthy democracy.
Meanwhile, the European Commission (EC) has also welcomed the chief adviser's indications about holding of the parliamentary and upazila elections and the creation of favourable conditions for the successful holding of the polls.
"The European Commission encourages all stakeholders to work in a constructive spirit towards those elections," said the delegation of the EC to Bangladesh yesterday in an official reaction to the chief adviser's Saturday evening speech to the nation.
The EC delegation said the EC confirms that the Commissioner for External Relations Dr Ferrero-Waldner will decide in the near future on the redeployment of EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) based on the prevailing political and electoral situation.