AL committed to upholding democracy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the Awami League is committed to upholding democracy in Bangladesh.
"We have fought for democracy and attained democracy," she said when a 12-member US pre-election assessment mission paid a courtesy call on her at the Gono Bhaban yesterday, reports BSS.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Hasina said the ideology of her party AL is to uphold democracy and the party has been fighting for democracy.
She briefly apprised the US delegation of the history of Bangladesh's democracy.
Leader of the delegation, former deputy USAID administrator Bonnie Glick said Bangladesh has attained amazing economic development under the leadership of Hasina.
Glick said they did not represent the US government, rather they came here in their private capacity.
She said they want a peaceful transition of power.
Former assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs Karl F Inderfurth said democracy has some inherent problems and the problems are in the USA also.
The delegation thanked the PM for giving them time despite her busy schedule.
TEAM ASKS ABOUT VIOLENCE
Earlier in the day, the team asked the home boss whether the opposition political parties would be able to properly campaign if they take part in the next general election.
During a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, the mission also asked if any violence may occur centring the parliamentary polls, scheduled to be held in early January.
In another meeting with Law Minister Anisul Huq, the US team from the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute wanted to know if there was any concern that particular parties won't participate in the election.
"I have said that our government wants all parties to take part in the polls. But the decision on joining or staying away from the elections would depend on those particular parties," the minister told reporters after the meeting at the secretariat.
Anisul said that the caretaker government issue was not discussed and that the US delegation did not ask anything about dialogue among political parties.
He said that the mission enquired about the difference between the Cyber Security Act and the Digital Security Act, and that he made it clear to the delegation.
Anisul said the issue of free, fair and neutral election was discussed in the meeting and he told the US team that the government was committed to holding such an election.
He said the Election Commission as an independent body can conduct free, fair and peaceful elections.
The US mission is set to conclude its six-day tour of Bangladesh today. It is visiting Dhaka to know about the election preparations and conduct an independent and impartial assessment.
The visit is taking place about three weeks after the European Union announced that it will not send a fully-fledged election observation team for the Bangladesh general election.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzamn said the US mission asked whether the law enforcers will be able to ensure security of all candidates.
The delegation also wanted to know what would happen if any candidate felt insecure and if he/she faced obstruction during electioneering, he added.
"We have told them that the scale of violence will not be like what we saw before. We saw violence in the 80s and 90s, but such incidents don't take place now. We think that whenever elections are held in our subcontinent, a festive atmosphere is created," the minister told reporters.
He said police are well trained, well equipped and well informed, and they have carried out election duties, so there will be "no problem".
The minister said that no one will be able to rig elections.
Asked about BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's statement that they are ready for talks on a neutral polls-time government, Asaduzzamn said, "We have a constitution. We cannot go beyond the constitution."
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