The United States yesterday said it would be better for Bangladesh to withdraw the state of emergency as soon as possible and hold an election participated by all.
It also said civil rights must be protected and due legal process in trials, including the trials of the two former prime ministers, should be followed.
The visiting senior US official Donald Camp said this yesterday. Camp met the chief adviser, the chief election commissioner (CEC) and the army chief yesterday.
“The sooner the state of emergency is lifted the better, the sooner the election can be held, the better,” Camp told reporters after his meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury.
“Full democracy is vital to the country. Full participation in the electoral process is vital to democracy,” Camp said adding that the US will stand beside the Bangladeshi people to see power handed over to an elected government by the end of this year.
Camp also said an “open dialogue” between the government and political parties, NGOs and civil society members is essential in the country’s path to democracy.
He said the CEC assured him of holding elections by the end of this year.
Camp, the US principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia, said it is important to institutionalise the government’s widespread reform programme as soon as possible.
Asked about US concerns, Camp said, “All civil liberties must be protected,” adding that freedom of the press, speech and labour rights are important areas that must be ensured.
“Our view is that any trial in this country, including that of the two former prime ministers, must be carried out in fulfilment of the due process and as per the constitution,” he said.
He said Bangladesh must meet good economic governance standards and must free itself from corruption in order to qualify for the US Millennium Challenge Account.
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar said Bangladesh is looking to end its dependency on aid in favour of greater trade. And getting greater access to bigger markets such as the US is crucial in this regard.
Camp said his meeting with army chief Moeen U Ahmed was very fruitful. They discussed national elections and the role of the caretaker government.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
February 5th, 2008 at 7:53 am
It seems that US has to tell us when to do what. Why CTG do not realise they must establish normalcy through lifting of emmergency. The world realises that no such situation prevails. But CTG seems to have no confidence in its ability to handle situation. They have created much of the siatuation themselves riding on the unnecessary agenadas . Now they must create congenial atmospheshere starting dialogue with political parties and relaxing emmergency step by step.In this age of IT boom nothing remains secret. CTG must now have any bias.