Staff Reporter :
The United States has been continuing its reservations on the 12th parliamentary election, saying that the poll was not free and fair.
They, however, said that they would continue their engagement in various areas as they do with other countries.
Mathew Miller, a spokesperson of the State Department, made the remarks in reply to the question of a journalist during a press briefing on Thursday.
The journalist asked him that the United States is interested in working with Bangladesh in various security areas which include counterterrorism, border security, cybersecurity, maritime security, and regional stability.
How is it possible to work in a larger context with the new government in Bangladesh without welcoming the prime minister?
“We have relations of this sort all around the world. We have expressed our concerns about the Bangladesh election. We have expressed concerns about crackdowns in Bangladesh,” Miller said.
He, however, said, “That does not mean that we don’t have the responsibility to work with the government – both on areas where we have concern and also areas where we believe we can cooperate at shared priorities.”
Though scores of countries and their representatives have welcomed the formation of the Awami League anew, but very few countries have endorsed the Bangladesh election as free and fair.
The United States, the European Union and the US have been continuing their voices for the free and fair election and expressing their deep concerns for throwing thousands of opposition leaders and workers including the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) into jail.
In the wake of the election, the countries, however, have welcome the new government, but regarding the election they are still critical, saying that the poll has been failed to meet the international standard as free and fair.
Recently a number of counties including the UN Human Rights Commission and the US have called upon the government to independently continue an investigation into the poll related violence.
They have also urged that government to release the opposition leaders who are languishing in jail.
The State Department again renewed its concerns on the massive crackdown the opposition.
The ruling elite, however, have been continuously rejecting such statements from the State Department and the UN.
Rather the Awami League government is playing the flute of happiness, saying that different governments and heads of the States have expressed their keen desire to work with the new government.
The State Department on Thursday said that they would work with the government the ‘shared priorities’ in the days to come.
Even on January 30, Mathew Miller in the press briefing reiterated concerns about the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh before.
“We did not find them to be free and fair. We have also expressed our concerns with the arrest of thousands of political opposition members in the run-up to those elections,” he said.
Urging the government, he said, “We urge the Bangladeshi Government to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for all of the arrested individuals.”
“We also urge the Bangladeshi Government to allow opposition members and media professionals, civil society representatives, to participate meaningfully in the country’s democratic process and civic life, and we will continue to engage with the Bangladeshi Government to advance that point of view,” he emphasised.