US Ambassador Dan Mozena yesterday said Dhaka and Washington have no political gap but it has not changed its policy over January 5 election.
US statement on January 6, US State Department Assistant Secretary Nisha Desai Biswal testimonies on February 11 and April 30 and the US Ambassador designate to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat testimony on July 17 are the US policy, Mozena said.
“They are all identical. There is no change and there is no gap [between Bangladesh and US relationship,” he said in responding to a question on political gap between the two countries.
He was talking with journalists after having a meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque at the Foreign Ministry.
The US issued a statement on January 6 and expressed discontent over the polls where candidates were elected unopposed in more than half of the 300 seats and voter turnout was low.
Bernicat at her testimony before Senate Foreign Relations Committee praised Bangladesh but termed the election “undeniably flawed”.
She also said that the US felt Bangladesh’s main political parties urgently need to engage in constructive dialogue that leads to a more representative government.
Asked about the criticism of the Bernicat’s statement by some Awami League leaders, Mozena said: “People say what they want to say.”
“I wish people read her testimony that is extremely comprehensive and very very balanced and reflected the continuing US policy,” Mozena said.
He said he thought his successor would get confirmation to be the next ambassador from the Senate by July 31 but it did not happen as the Senate is going on recess.
“Subsequently I was asked by the State Department to stay on and I will,” he said.
About his meeting with the foreign secretary, Mozena said: “I updated him about the whole series of military to military exercises that is coming up in August and September.”
They also discussed about third partnership dialogue to be held in Washington where Bangladesh side will be led by the foreign secretary and US side will be US State Department Under Secretary Wendy Sherman in October.
About the statement of the foreign ministry on US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Dhaka, he said: “I don’t have confirmation about that.
Of course, I would love to have that happen.”
