US express concern about intimidation and political violence in Dhaka

Diplomatic Correspondent :
The US expressed concern about the intimidation and political violence in Dhaka and told the government to investigate it and to protect the fundamental rights of the political parties.
“We are concerned about reports of intimidation and political violence in Dhaka and are calling everyone to respect the rule of law and to refrain from violence, harassment, and intimidation,” US Ambassador to Dhaka Peter Haas said in a statement on Thursday.
He further said, “We encourage government authorities to investigate these
reports of violence and to protect the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.”
Along with the concern, the US Embassy also extended its condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the capital on Wednesday when police and BNP men were locked in a clash, leaving one person killed and hundred others injured.
Even the US State Department on Tuesday in a press briefing by their spokesman Ned Price expressed about reports of intimidation and political violence in Bangladesh and called on the government to respect and to protect the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
In addition to expressing concerns, the US embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday issued an alert ahead of the BNP political rally on December 10, saying that the rallies intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.