US renews call for free, fair polls

The United States has renewed its call on Bangladesh government to fulfil its commitment to uphold free, fair and participatory elections that will reflect the will of the people.

“The United States supports Bangladesh's stability. We believe that Bangladesh's stability is best served by having a political process where people can express their views electorally,” said a senior US state department official in Washington DC on Friday.

Speaking to a group of journalists from four South Asian nations including two from Bangladesh at the Foreign Press Centre, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells, told journalists that the US, EU, other countries, friends and partners of Bangladesh have called for transparent, free and competitive elections.

Journalists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are now taking part in a reporting tour organised by the US Department of State on “Amplifying the Indo-Pacific Strategy”.

Responding to a question from this correspondent about the opposition's boycott of election in 2014, Wells said that did not serve Bangladesh well. “I think the country is served well by contested elections that help produce best candidates and allow people to have broad choice,” Wells added.