US rules out any notion of not recognizing PM Hasina

Washington has ruled out any perception of not recognizing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fourth straight term.

“No, no,” State Department’s spokesperson Matthew Miller instantly replied when he was asked at the daily briefing in Washington on Thursday.

The question said: “When you say that the election results in Bangladesh were not credible, free, or fair, does this imply that the US will not recognize Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fourth straight term?”

The US was critical to the general elections boycotted by the opposition BNP.

The State Department also announced a visa restriction policy long before the elections held on January 7 to ensure free and fair polling.

But after the elections, the State Department said they shared the view with other observers that these elections were “not free and fair”.

They also regretted that all parties did not participate and condemned violence that took place during the elections. They also encouraged the government to credibly and transparently investigate the reports of violence.

Like other countries, the US did not use the word “congratulations” to the new government in the statement. That made the opposition analysts believe and publicly say that the US did not welcome the new government.

US Ambassador Peter Haas, however, met new Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Hasan Mahmud and chalked out the future of US-Bangladesh ties.

"I look forward to working closely in the coming months to advance our relations based on mutual interest," he had said after the meeting.

Replying to a question, the State Department’s spokesperson on Thursday also reiterated the call to investigate the reports of violence during the elections and to hold perpetrators accountable.

He also urged all parties to reject political violence.