US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal yesterday said it is up to the people of Bangladesh to decide when the next elections would be held.
“We have continued to advocate on strong and inclusive democracy, and we will continue to work with Bangladesh. But in terms of elections – it is for the people of Bangladesh to determine the timetable,” she said during a press briefing held at the American Club yesterday.
Biswal was on a three-day visit to Bangladesh after attending the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Summit in Kathmundu, which ended on Thursday.
During her trip, Biswal met opposition leader Rowshan Ershad, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, labour leaders and many others.
She however did not answer when asked about her meeting with the opposition leader Rowshan Ershad the day before, when Biswal had apparently inquired about the next elections.
When asked about supposed allegations placed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Biswal said: “Wherever I go, I always meet with the government and with opposition – that is a hallmark of democracies. The discussions that we had focused on the fact that we do believe Bangladesh’s strength as a nation is its democracy and we’re committed to working with and partnering with Bangladesh on that aspect.”
She expressed concerns about extrajudicial killings when asked about the human rights situation in the country, especially with regards to the recent Narayanganj killings.
Biswal spoke little of the political situation of the country, eleven months since the January 5 elections. She focused instead on her observation of the Saarc summit and the overall progress of the garments industry.
She said the revival of the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) was still subject to review by the US trade representative’s office.
Citing the registration of over 200 unions, inspection of over 2,000 factories, and shutting down of over 30 factories due to unsafe conditions, she said: “These are all very important milestones. But clearly there’s a road ahead and much hard-work still needs to be done. Legislations that have been passed or amended need to be implemented, and regulations need to be issued.”
Regarding her recent observation of the Saarc summit, Biswal said Bangladesh is a “key point of connectivity” between south Asia and South-East Asia.
“The opportunity for the region as a whole very much depends on the connectivity that is established with and through Bangladesh,” she said.
However, she said more action is needed by the South-Asian member country leaders for better outcome.