Hope US takes note of BNP’s election threat: Shahriar

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today hoped that the United States would take note of the threats being issued by BNP to obstruct elections.

"There are speeches, comments and commentaries passed on by our friends in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party threatening that police officers, administration, electoral officials -- whoever will participate in the election -- will be dealt with. That's a serious threat. I hope the US is taking good note of that," he said.

The state minister was responding to questions at an interaction titled "Bangladesh at the Crossroads" held at a hotel in Dhaka.

The Daily Ittefaq hosted the conversation with the state minister where the newspaper's Executive Director and Publisher Tareen Hossain delivered welcome remarks.

Shahriar Alam said demanding a caretaker government is an "illegitimate demand" as per the present constitution and also the verdict passed by the judges.

The state minister said such demand by BNP itself goes on to qualify as an "obstruction" to free and fair election.

Responding to a question on pressure on the government, Shahriar posed a counter question, "Do you really think even if someone wants to put pressure they can move Sheikh Hasina?

He said PM Hasina is the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "That is her pride and that is what drives her. Please do some justice to this legacy and do not invite such weaker observations."

Responding to a question, he said there is no reason for new sanctions and the government are absolutely not under any pressure from anywhere.

Regarding a political question, he said free and fair election requires equal political commitments from all political parties.

Shahriar hoped that all political parties will take part in the election demonstrating their commitment.

Talking about the relations with the US, the state minister referred to what he said yesterday at EMK Center.

He had mentioned that the friendship between Bangladesh and the United States has deepened and broadened to the length that allows them to frankly debate on the differences.

Shahriar, however, acknowledged that there are some irritants in the relations.

The long-pending repatriation of Rashed Chowdhury, a self-confessed, convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman finding refuge in a friendly country like the US remains a source of deep regret. "That is a source of irritation."He reminded that BNP has a history of using and falsifying comments of foreign friends in the past and also referred to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's article in the Washington Times seeking withdrawal of GSP facilities for Bangladesh.