‘Fair polls important issues of US-BD priorities’

Staff Reporter  :
US State Department said that free and fair elections as well as the crucial role of civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and labour activists, accountability for human rights abuses are the important issues between Bangladesh and the US.

To achieve these goals, the United States is engaging with Bangladeshi officials because they believe these should be shared priorities for the two countries, the State Department said on Tuesday.
“The Under Secretary (Uzra Zeya) emphasised in her trip, is the importance of the United States and Bangladesh working together to achieve Bangladesh’s goal of free and fair elections as well as the crucial role of civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and labour activists, accountability for human rights abuses. These are important issues in our bilateral relationship,” U.S. State Department spokesperson, Mathew Miller said this during the press briefing at the Washington DC.

When asked about the increase in violations and attacks on the opposition after the visit of Under Secretary Zeya, he said, “Under Secretary Zeya and other officials visited Bangladesh and met with the Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina ) and other officials last week. She also met with labor activists, civil society leaders, and human rights defenders.”

“During these meetings, the Under Secretary emphasised the importance of working together to achieve Bangladesh’s goal of free and fair elections; the crucial role of civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and labour activists; accountability for human rights abuses; and the need to continue to support Rohingya refugees,” he continued.

She also visited Rohingya refugees as well as humanitarian partners and Bangladesh senior government officials in Cox’s Bazar and announced $74 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support Burma and Bangladesh response efforts, he said.

“I will just say finally that the United States is dedicated to partnering with the government and civil society to address the scourge of human trafficking in the region,” the Spokesperson said.
In another question how the US asses the current relationship between the US and Bangladesh, considering the recent development, Miller highlighted the frequent discussions and engagement between the two nations as evidence of the shared assessment of Bangladesh’s importance.

“The fact that senior officials from the United States regularly travel to Bangladesh, would show that we share that assessment,” he said.
The current political scenario of Bangladesh is regularly being discussed during the State Department press briefing regarding the upsurge of violence in the political programmes and also elections.
Even on Monday, the State Department strongly condemned the alarming surge of political violence plaguing the democratic elections including the Dhaka-17 by-election in Bangladesh.
The recent attacks targeting opposition party members and activists have raised serious concerns about the fairness and safety of the electoral process, the US government said.
During the press briefing, Mathew Miller, stated, “This type of political violence has no place in democratic elections.”

He urged the government of Bangladesh to conduct thorough, transparent, and impartial investigations into reports of violence, ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.
“We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to investigate any reports of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators of violence to account,” he said.
The US has always been stating that by working hand in hand, the two nations are poised to uphold democratic values, protect human rights, and forge a path towards a more prosperous and just future.