Expressing concern over the violence that has marred the beginning of the campaigning process, the Trump Administration on Thursday encouraged the Sheikh Hasina-led government to fulfill its commitment to hold a free, fair, participatory and credible election that reflect the will of the Bangladeshi people.
“The United States encourages the Government of Bangladesh to fulfill its commitment to holding free, fair, participatory, and credible elections that reflect the will of the Bangladeshi people,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells told Bangla Tribune in an exclusive interview.
Responding to questions on the December 30th general elections in Bangladesh, Wells said the US is “concerned” by the violence that has marred the beginning of the campaigning process. She called on all actors, no matter their political party or sentiment, to act peacefully and responsibly. “Violence hinders the democratic process and only serves those who wish to undermine it,” she said.
“All parties should be free and feel safe to participate fully in the political process, which includes the freedom to express their political views, campaign throughout the country, and hold peaceful rallies and meetings. The strongest democracies flourish from frequent and lively debate,” Wells said.
The United States, Wells said, does not support any particular candidate or party in the upcoming elections. “We support the democratic process and values the people of Bangladesh and the United States hold dear,” she said.
Wells said the United States is supporting election observation teams, including funding a five-member team from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) that completed a pre-assessment mission earlier this month.
NDI’s partner, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), has dedicated two international electoral analysts to cover the election and will be sending international observers, she said.
“The US Embassy will deploy separate election observation teams throughout the country,” Wells said. “In cooperation with the United Kingdom and Switzerland, we are also funding 15,000 domestic observers under the Election Working Group, a consortium of Bangladesh civil society organizations,” said the top American diplomat.
Meanwhile the US House of Representatives Thursday in a resolution, agreed to without objection, sought the commitment of the United States to promote free, fair, transparent and credible elections in Bangladesh.
Sponsored by Congressmen Ted Yoho, Eliot Engel, Brad Sherman, Steve Chabot, Gerald Connolly and Darren Soto, the resolution calls on the Government of Bangladesh to respect the freedom of speech and of the press and to heed the Bangladesh Election Commission’s request to ensure security for minorities and maintain communal harmony for a peaceful election.
The resolution urges political leaders and judicial authorities in Bangladesh to respect the will of voters and ensure that all Bangladeshis will be able to participate freely in the upcoming elections, and that the elections will be impartial and inclusive.
Noting that democratic stability, regional security, and economic prosperity in Bangladesh and South Asia are vital to the national security interests of the United States, the resolution said the US-Bangladesh relationship is built on a foundation of shared values and cooperation on issues including economic growth and development, labor rights, peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and the environment and climate.
United States should more actively engage with the Government of Bangladesh with respect to their shared interests in safeguarding human rights, religious freedom, and secular democracy in Bangladesh, while preventing the growth of religious extremism and militancy, the resolution said.
