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Download PDF The US government expects Bangladesh to take additional steps for restoring democracy as soon as possible.
Visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Gastright said this at a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday.
The US embassy in Dhaka later issued a press statement on the around one-hour talks held at the CEC’s office.
“Gastright said the US government looked forward to additional steps by Bangladesh to restore democracy as soon as possible, and the two discussed the steps underway to prepare for elections by the end of 2008,” the statement said.
“He reiterated the US government’s willingness to provide support to the Election Commission. Full democracy is vital to the country. Full participation in the electoral process is vital to democracy,” it added.
The press statement said Gastright also welcomed the recent relaxation on internal politics and emphasised the important role that political parties, NGOs and civil society can play in the electoral process.
John Gastright had a “positive and productive” meeting with the CEC and he congratulated the CEC on the great progress the commission has made over the last nine months in course of its preparatory work, it noted.
Emerging from the meeting, Gastright told reporters on the EC Secretariat premises that he was impressed with the EC’s plans and ongoing activities for holding the next parliamentary election to move toward democracy.
“They [EC] outlined how they are going ahead with the process of preparing a voter list and also the process of working with the political parties to register those to ensure democracy not only for the people of Bangladesh but also in the political parties. It is especially important for the future of Bangladesh’s democracy,” Gastright said.
Asked if he gave any suggestion to the EC at the meeting, he said, “My job is to suggest solutions for the people of Bangladesh, and the Election Commission by the way has really announced an outstanding plan, five-point plan, to move toward democracy.”
Gastright, who arrived in Dhaka yesterday, is expected to meet Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed and civil society personalities during his visit.
Shamsul Huda told reporters that the EC informed Gastright about its roadmap announced earlier for holding the stalled ninth parliamentary election.
Asked whether Gastright suggested holding of election much before the already announced deadline, the CEC said the EC told him that according to the roadmap, parliamentary election will be held before the end of December 2008.
“Election will however be held earlier than the deadline if preparation of voter list is completed earlier than the schedule,” he reiterated.
In reply to a question, Shamsul Huda said the EC told Gastright that it might seek assistance of US experts, if necessary, to delimit parliamentary constituencies.
The EC would ask the government in December to lift restrictions on indoor politics in areas where local government polls will be held from January next year, he said.
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