Masud-Afreen meeting: US reiterates call for free, fair polls in Bangladesh
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh and the United States reiterated their shared commitment to conduct a free and fair election in a peaceful manner.
“Bangladesh and the United States want free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner and the US wants to see the government efforts to ensure the people cast their votes in free, fair and peaceful elections,” a tweet from the US Embassy Dhaka said on Monday.
The information was revealed after a meeting between US Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter and Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masud Bin Momen in the State Guest House Padma in the capital.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas was also present in the meeting.
According to the tweet, the key topics on the agenda included US direct investment and trade relations with Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of economic collaboration.
Both nations acknowledged the significance of their longstanding development partnership, which has resulted in numerous cooperative initiatives to enhance socio-economic development in Bangladesh.
“We discussed our strong multifaceted bilateral relationship and its many aspects: The US direct investment and trade and our longstanding development partnership,” it said.
The discussions also extended to global affairs, with a focus on the Middle East, where both countries share current situation there.
The discussion also mentioned the recent visit of an independent and non-partisan election survey team to Bangladesh, underscoring the international community’s interest in the country’s democratic processes, the tweet said.
Regarding the Rohingya issue, it also mentioned that both sides discussed on the Bangladesh’s efforts in hosting Rohingyas and the US’s support for these people.
UNB adds: US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) Afreen Akhter on Monday discussed issues of mutual interest including elections and the Rohingya issues with Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh and the United States want free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner,” said the US Embassy in Dhaka after Afreen’s meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present.
They discussed the “strong multifaceted” bilateral relationship between the two countries and its many aspects.
The US direct investment and trade, longstanding development partnership, the Middle East, the recent visit of the independent and non-partisan election survey team, and supporting Rohingya refugees came up for discussion.
They also discussed government efforts to ensure the people of Bangladesh cast their votes in free, fair and peaceful elections.
In Colombo recently, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen already briefed her about the preparations for the next national elections that the government wants to see free and fair.
Responding to a question, Momen recently said Afreen Akhter’s visit is mainly to discuss two issues – Rohingya crisis and Bangladesh elections.
He said the US also wants to see free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
Momen, however, said the government can not guarantee an election free from violence if all parties do not show sincerity.
He also conveyed to Akhter that Bangladeshis are not like Americans and that people in Bangladesh cast their votes with much enthusiasm.
“It’s a festival here. It’s totally a different scenario in Bangladesh,” Momen said.
Akhter looks after issues in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives, as well as the Office of Security and Transnational Affairs.
Earlier, US Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Afreen Akhter arrived in Dhaka on Monday to discuss issues of mutual interest including elections and the Rohingya issue.
She might also visit Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps during the visit.
She was the National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser to U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.
She visited Dhaka in May this year.
