The United States has expressed its concern about the reports of intimidation and political violence in Bangladesh surrounding the protests.
“We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to investigate reports of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators of violence to account,” the state department spokesperson Matthew Miller while replying to questions at the daily briefing on Monday in Washington.
He said: “We urge Bangladesh to create a safe environment for people to peacefully assemble and voice their concerns, and we call on all parties to respect fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and to refrain from violence, harassment, and intimidation.
“And I will say finally that free and fair elections depend on the commitment of everyone – voters, political parties, youth wings, and police – and cannot take place in an environment with political violence,” he maintained.
The state department spokesperson made those comments when asked how does Washington assess the situation, considering “the government’s apparent hardline stance towards the opposition and police brutality?” What steps will the State Department take to ensure the possibility of a credible and peaceful election in Bangladesh?
In another question, a journalist said that the main opposition party BNP made a situation like “a war field” at the capital on a demand of an election-time government, which was declared unconstitutional by the supreme court of Bangladesh.
However, the spokesperson declined to make any comment when asked about his observation on the Canadian court’s June 15 judicial review that labelled BNP as “a terrorist organization’.
At least 20 policemen were injured after being attacked by BNP activists during the party’s sit-in program — held on July 29 without permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) — at different entry points of the capital Dhaka.
Police arrested at least 90 opposition activists during Saturday’s hours-long protest announced by BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from a rally at Naya Paltan on Friday.
BNP has been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to allow the installation of a caretaker government to oversee the next general election. On Saturday, BNP activists set buses on fire and exploded cocktails, said Faruk Hossain, DMP deputy commissioner for media.
The ruling Awami League was also holding a “peace rally” to counter the opposition’s campaign.
