People will decide

A top US diplomat yesterday said it is for the people of Bangladesh to decide when to hold a general election.

Nisha Desai Biswal, visiting US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, said her country stood for strong and inclusive democracy in Bangladesh and would continue to work on moving forward the bilateral relations.

“In terms of elections, it is for the people of Bangladesh to determine the time-table for such,” she said, apparently avoiding Washington's latest position on the debate over a general election in Bangladesh.

While addressing a pre-departure press briefing at the American Club in the afternoon, she hastened to add: “I would say we are very focused on how we can move forward in the relationship in many areas that we think important areas of convergence between the two countries.”

The US earlier had vehemently opposed the January 5 election in Bangladesh terming it “deeply flawed” and called for immediate political dialogue and a fresh inclusive and transparent election that is credible to the people of Bangladesh.

Biswal, who came to Dhaka on a three-day visit on Thursday, second time in one year, had a series of meetings with Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad, former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, business and RMG union leaders and civil society representatives and visited Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT).

Sources said the question of January 5 controversial elections and fresh or interim elections figured prominently during her meeting with the political and business leaders and civil society members.

The US diplomat said wherever they go they always meet the government and the opposition and this is “homework of democracies”.

During her meetings she had expressed US support for political dialogue and said the US expected the responsibility of all political parties and use of political space responsibly and peacefully.

Replying to a question on her meeting with the BNP chairperson, she said, “Discussions that we had focused on the fact that we do believe that Bangladesh's strength as a nation is its democracy and we are committed to working and partnering with Bangladesh on that aspect.”

On how the US could assist Bangladesh in the wake of terrorist threats on political leaders, including the prime minister, she said the US has strong counterterrorism cooperation with Bangladesh and India.

“They are sharing information and working together to combat terrorism and violent extremism and the US will continue cooperation,” she added.

Biswal also expressed concerns over the extrajudicial killings and violation of human rights and called for due process and proper investigations.

On another question about the Rapid Action Battalion's involvement in the Narayanganj seven-murder, she said, “We think it is very important that the government of Bangladesh work seriously to ensure that institutions are acting with accountability and that there is due process for any cases of criminal activity”.

On Dhaka-Washington bilateral relations, she said Bangladesh is an important partner of the US and it is not only in terms of bilateral relations but “we can do together for democracy and addressing regional and global challenges”.

Talking about her meeting with Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali yesterday, she said she had conveyed how Secretary of State John Kerry was looking forward to the minister's visit to Washington. “We look forward to an earliest opportunity for fixing the date for that”.

She said this visit gave her an opportunity to discuss the issue “across the broad range of partnership” to address challenges in the areas of heath, environment and agriculture. “Bangladesh has done so much and we want to see the progress continue”.

Referring to her speech in the Saarc summit, Biswal said she told the South Asian leaders that for ensuing peace and prosperity “it is not just enough to have economic development and economic connectivity”.

“It is also important to have resilient democratic institutions such as transparent and accountable governance, and economic and political system that will be inclusive and growth strategies that are environmentally sustainable”.

US Ambassador Dan Mozena and embassy spokesperson Monica L Shie were present on the occasion.