Bangladesh News

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Patricia A Butenis has stressed the need for lifting the ban on political activities in the country so that the political parties can move towards reforms.

She expressed her views during a meeting with Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s Sudha Sadan residence yesterday.

“We talked about the need to allow political activities as soon as possible,” Butenis told reporters after the nearly one and a half hours long meeting.

“We talked about political party reforms and how important that is, the need for parties to meet and discuss reforms so that they can have meaningful contribution to that debate to work with the Election Commission on these issues,” she added.

Terming the meeting as her ‘farewell call’ on the AL chief, the outgoing US envoy said that there was just a general review on the overall situation. “She (Sheikh Hasina) had come back from the States. Normally, I talk to her when she returns from overseas,” Butenis added.

“As soon as the ban on political activities is removed, we can help the Election Commission (EC) towards reforms. For this we want to discuss the matter within our party forum,” AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil quoted Hasina as saying in the meeting.

He was briefing the reporters after the meeting.

The AL chief had told the US envoy that there is no alternative to holding the elections and elected government, Jalil said. She also raised the issue of restoring of a transparent political environment in the country, he added.

“In the present context, the countrymen as well as the people around the world hope for a free and fair election. So the pledges made by the caretaker government after assuming power in January as well as the reform proposals need to be implemented,” Jalil quoted Hasina as saying.

Besides, there was discussion on overall present political situation in the meeting. The US envoy also expressed her hope that the country would march towards democracy within the shortest possible time, Jalil added.

About the EC’s decision to prepare the voter list in camps and not making door-to-door visits, the AL general secretary said that the EC should not take any final decision in this matter without consulting the political parties.

“We want to discuss the matter in our party forum after the lifting of the ban on political activities as we want to cooperate with the EC,” he said.

The AL chief’s political secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury, environment affairs secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud and press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present at the meeting.