USAID chief Rajiv Shah has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to find an agreement to hold free and fair elections that are deemed credible by the people of Bangladesh.
“Your considerable leadership skills can help the Bangladeshi major political parties find an agreed way to hold free and fair elections that are deemed credible by the people of BD,” said Shah in a letter sent to the premier in the first week of December.
Rajiv Shah’s letter is another one from Washington, last week six US Congressmen wrote a letter to Hasina and BNP chief Khaleda Zia, urging them to engage in dialogue.
The USAID chief referred to the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal, who discussed the issue with the prime minister during her visit to Dhaka.
“The US believes constructive dialogue between the major political parties is crucial to resolving any impasse over holding free, fair, and credible elections,” he said.
The political parties need to have political space to express their views freely and peacefully, he added.
“The people of Bangladesh want free, fair and credible elections. I urge you to find an agreed path to hold the elections that the Bangladeshi people so deeply want.”
