Asked whether the United States would stand by the people of Bangladesh to create a peaceful and credible environment under a caretaker government for the upcoming national elections, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedanta Patel said, ‘Our focus at this point is to closely monitor the electoral environment. We are duly active in calling for the government of Bangladesh, opposition parties, civil society and other partners to work together in the interest of the people.’
He said this in response to a question at the press briefing of the US State Department on Monday.
In that question, it is said, ‘There is a protest going on all over Bangladesh demanding the resignation of the incumbent Prime Minister. More than 8,000 leaders and activists including the BNP secretary general have been arrested. At least 11 people have been killed since the October 28 protests. As the United States and the international community are committed to creating a peaceful and credible environment for the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, will you (the United States) stand by the people of Bangladesh to create that environment? Will their wishes be reflected under a new caretaker government?’
Patel said, ‘It is important to remember that the US does not support any political party in Bangladesh. We do not give (special) importance to any political party over another party.’
Another question asked, “Would the US ask the BNP to ‘stop violence’ and participate in the upcoming elections?”
In response, Vedanta Patel said, ‘We (US) are closely monitoring the electoral environment in Bangladesh and take any incidents of violence very seriously.’
He said, ‘We are urging the government, opposition parties, civil society and other partners to work together for the sake of the people of Bangladesh. We will continue this work.’
