Washington hopes that BNP Chairperson and former PM Khaleda Zia “receives fairness and due process of law”, says acting US ambassador to Bangladesh Joel Reifman.
He was responding to a question on political situation at American Club Thursday.
The acting ambassador said the United States is disappointed about the alleged report of irregularities in Khulna City Corporation Polls.
“I will echo Ambassador Bernicat comment’s yesterday. We do commend the participation of Awami League and BNP and other parties in yesterday’s Khulna City Corporation Election. We applaud the timely completion of election process. However, our concerns are reports of alleged irregularities, intimidation and violence. This is important those irregularities be investigated transparently and impartially.”
He was of the view that the Election Commission and governmental agencies take appropriate steps in this regard.
USAID Administrator Mark Andrew Green in his remark said, “I believe in freedom of expression, freedom of association. I believe in rights for people to express themselves, to vote leaders.”
Politics is messy but these are the principles that the United States try to be guided by, he added.
A three times prime minister, Khaleda is now serving a five-year term after she was convicted of embezzling foreign donations made to an orphanage.
She faces several other graft charges brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission as well as charges on instigating violence.