Shortly after her arrival in Dhaka, United States Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal yesterday sat with politicians, businessmen, civil society members and diplomatic mission representatives in Dhaka.
The thanks-giving programme followed by dinner hosted and held at the residence of the US Ambassador to Dhaka Dan Mozena where Biswal reportedly said accountability, transparency and inclusiveness are must for development of any country.
She, however, reportedly did not make any comment on January 5 election, said a meeting source.
Awami League advisory council member Muhammad Zamir, BNP leaders Moudud Ahmed and Abdul Moyeen Khan were present at the meeting.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, civil society leader Farooq Sobhan, American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh President Aftab Ul Islam were also present.
Biswal arrived in Dhaka in the evening on a three-day visit after attending the 18th Saarc summit held in Nepal.
She is expected to hold meetings with the prime minister, opposition leader, government officials and business community leaders.
The US official is scheduled to attend a programme at Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) in Gazipur today.
Biswal will meet the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today (Friday) at her Gulshan residence at 6pm, Sabihuddin Ahmed, adviser to the BNP chairperson, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Party’s Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice-Chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury and advisers to the BNP Chairperson Reaz Rahman and Sabihuddin will accompany Khaleda.
In the morning, Biswal is expected to hold a breakfast meeting with labour leaders at US Ambassador’s residence, said a labour leader seeking anonymity. America is the single largest export destination for Bangladeshi products.
In November 2013, she visited Bangladesh and stressed on dialogues between the political parties to resolve the political deadlock and to hold an inclusive, free, fair and acceptable election.
But the much-expected talks did not take place. BNP and many other political parties boycotted the January 5 election and 153 were elected uncontested.
In February, Biswal termed the January-5 election a “deeply flawed” one and said this could have serious ramifications for stability in Bangladesh and the region as the election did not credibly express the will of Bangladeshi people.
“Our interest in holding new elections is to ensure a free and fair process,” she said at the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington in February.