The need for a dialogue between the political parties is now more urgent to reach a consensus to hold free, fair and credible elections in Bangladesh, said the US State Department during a briefing on Friday. “We believe the need is now even more urgent for the major political parties to engage immediately in constructive dialogue to find a way forward to hold elections that are free, fair, and credible, and that reflects the will of the Bangladeshi people,” Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the State Department, said while replying to a question regarding Bangladesh during the daily press briefing on Friday.
“Violence of any nature – which I know we’ve seen in Bangladesh – by any of the participants in the political process is not part of the democratic process. It’s not acceptable, must stop immediately,” she said.
“And the U.S. believes that, obviously, in a democracy, all parties have a right to express their opinions freely and peacefully. And we call on the major parties to engage in constructive dialogue to try to find an agreed-upon way forward,” she added.
-With The Independent input
