US to welcome lifting of emergency

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Visiting Senior US official Donald Camp yesterday said he would welcome withdrawal of the ban on indoor politics outside Dhaka and reiterated US backing for this caretaker government.

He also said the US has certain concerns about the situation in Bangladesh but refused to share them with reporters, saying he would express the concerns directly to the government.

Camp, US principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia, was talking to reporters at a brief joint press conference yesterday with Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain after a bilateral meeting on his first day here.

Asked about his thoughts on the year-long state of emergency here, Camp cited that the ban on indoor politics in Dhaka had been lifted and said, “I am sure there will be more, which will be welcomed.”

Reluctant to elaborate on the matter, Camp instead stressed the importance of this year to Bangladesh because of the planned elections by the end of this year.

A US embassy press statement said Camp reiterated his government’s support for the caretaker government and “Stressed the importance of implementation of the electoral roadmap.”

Camp also underlined the importance of dialogue between the government, civil society, political parties, the private sector, and international partners, said the press statement.

Touhid told reporters that the two sides also discussed bilateral trade issues during the meeting, but did not elaborate on the specifics.

He also said the two sides are also discussing US assistance in post-Sidr rehabilitation in the cyclone affected areas.

The US embassy also a held a reception last night in honour of Camp’s visit, which gave prominent politicians along with civil society and business leaders the chance to meet the US diplomat.

Camp is to meet Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, chief election commissioner and the foreign adviser tomorrow among others.

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