All parties and citizens of Bangladesh have the right to freely and peacefully express their opinions and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that, the United States said on Sunday. Washington is also of the opinion said that the opposition should use this scope peacefully. “The United States believes that in a democracy all parties and Bangladeshi citizens have the right to freely and peacefully express their views.
The government is responsible to provide space for such activity; equally the opposition is responsible to use such space in a peaceful manner,” Kelly McCarthy, spokesperson of the US embassy in Dhaka, told The Independent when comments were sought on the day’s development in the country.
Emphasising on the urgent need for talks between the parties, she also said, “We believe it is more urgent than ever for the major parties to redouble their efforts to engage in constructive dialogue to find a way forward to holding free and fair elections that are credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people.”
“Violence is not acceptable because it subverts the democratic process; it must stop immediately,” she added.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador Dan Mozena held a meeting with Prime Minister’s Adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique on Saturday to discuss a full range of issues.
“Ambassador Mozena regularly meets with counterparts in the diplomatic community, civil society and Government of Bangladesh as part of his normal day-to-day activities in Bangladesh,” US embassy McCarthy said.
“Ambassador Mozena and Tarique Siddique met and discussed a full range of issues, including the UN PKO (peacekeeping operation) augmentation in South Sudan, the BNS Shumodro Joy and more broadly the U.S. – Bangladesh partnership,” she said.
-With The Independent input
