The United States has expressed “disappointment” following reports of irregularities and intimidation in Tuesday's Khulna City Corporation election.
The US ambassador in Dhaka, Marcia Bernicat, made the comment to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday after an hour-long meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque.
“The reported irregularities and intimidation are very disappointing,” she said. “It necessitates transparent investigation.”
Awami League-nominated mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque won the Khulna city polls by a big margin on Tuesday, amid claims of irregularities from the opposition BNP including ballot stuffing and driving out polling agents of the rival group.
The ruling party in return criticized BNP for misleading people, and asked the party to take a lesson from the Khulna City Corporation elections.
The US envoy encouraged all parties to honour their pledges to stay within the boundaries of the rule of law in future elections, but also congratulated the parties on making the elections inclusive.
“It is very encouraging that a wide range of political parties participated in the polls. I congratulate everyone,” Bernicat said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations at its regular briefing on Tuesday reiterated its call for holding free and fair parliamentary elections when the nation goes to the polls in December.
