The USA wants free, fair and credible elections in Bangladesh to maintain its development as it sees huge prospect in this South Asian country, says a prominent civil society member.
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said this after visiting US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal met six civil society members during a ‘social occasion’ at US Ambassador Dan Mozena’s residence in the city on Saturday evening.
“They want a free, fair and credible election in Bangladesh. She (Biswal) is very positive about Bangladesh,” Dr Badiul Alam Majumder told reporters quoting Biswal as saying after the event.
Responding to a question, Majumder said they (US) do not have any preference to any party since they will back people’s support. “It seems to me that they don’t have any preference (to any party). I at least felt that they won’t interfere in anything here,” he added.
Majumder also said Biswal was very much positive about Bangladesh and opined that the country will progress further if all can work together.
“Actually, it was a social occasion. Personal issues dominated the discussions. She also wanted to know from us what we’re thinking of Bangladesh,” he said.
Biswal also laid emphasis on resolving the prevailing political problems, he also said.
Former diplomat Farooq Sobhan, secretary of rights organisation Odhikar Adilur Rahman Khan, Barrister Manjurul Hasan, journalist Mahfuzullah and Dr Foujia Karim were also present.
Biswal arrived here in the afternoon on her first bilateral visit to Bangladesh and will discuss election issues with top political leaders.
During her stay in Dhaka, she will discuss shared global, regional, and bilateral priorities with Bangladesh government, opposition, labour, and civil society leaders.
She will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 4pm at Ganobhaban on Sunday and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at 8:15pm on the same day.
Biswal is also scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at 4:30pm on Sunday, said a Foreign Ministry official. She will leave Dhaka on Monday night.
Biswal, 45, sworn in as the Assistant Secretary on October 21 replacing Robert O Blake, is the first person of south Asian origin heading the key bureau in the State Department.
Source: The Daily Star