Bangladesh, US want free, fair elections

Both Bangladesh and the US want free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner, the US embassy in Dhaka said after visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter's meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.

"Pleasure to meet with Foreign Secretary Momen and DG Masud Alam from MoFA," the embassy said in a statement in Facebook page.

"We discussed our strong multifaceted bilateral relationship and its many aspects: US direct investment and trade, our longstanding development partnership, the Middle East, the recent visit of the independent and non-partisan election survey team, supporting Rohingya refugees and government efforts to ensure the people of Bangladesh cast their votes in free, fair and peaceful elections."

Afreen Akhter arrived in Dhaka Monday for a two-day official visit to discuss general elections and the Rohingya issues.

Afrin works for the Washington's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) for Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives, as well as the Office of Security and Transnational Affairs.

She will visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday.

Upcoming parliamentary elections, and the Rohingya issue would dominate her visit, Foreign Minister Dr Ak Abdul Momen on Thursday, replying to a question, said.

Besides, both sides will discuss matters related to mutual interest.

The US remains active over Bangladesh's elections demanding it to be held free and fair. Washington also announced that it was applying visa restriction policy against those who they think were creating obstacles for a free and fair election.

The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) following their joint visit made five recommendations to Bangladesh for its upcoming election to be “credible, inclusive and nonviolent.”

These include moderate rhetoric and engaging in open and substantive dialogue on key election issues: protecting freedom of expression and ensuring an open civic space where dissent is respected; committing to nonviolence and holding perpetrators of political violence accountable; creating conditions to allow all parties to engage in meaningful political competition, including bolstering independent election management; and promoting a culture of inclusive and active electoral participation among citizens.

Afrin last visited Bangladesh in May to join the Indian Ocean Conference.