US wants free, fair, violence free polls: Momen

Diplomatic Correspondent :
US deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) Afreen Akhter has urged for a free, fair, and participatory elections devoid of violence.

“She wanted to know two issues – Rohingya and free, fair and inclusive election. She also asked about violence free election. We said that we cannot give any guaranty for it (violence free).

In order to make an election free of violence, an earnest commitment is needed from all parties,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Thursday.

This disclosure was made during a weekly media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, when Dr. Momen mentioned it that he had a sidelines meeting with Afreen during the recent Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) conference in Colombo.

Momen further said, “She (Afreen) further asked about whether voters will cast votes. I said it is not like your country. Here election is a festivity. People go to the polling centres with children. So it is a total different scenario here.”

Foreign minister also said that Afreen Akhter would visit Dhaka next week and mainly talk on Rohingya issue and the upcoming election with various stakeholders including the government.