The United States is aware of an online report blocked in Bangladesh that says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been asked by Washington to step down by November 3 or face the music.
“We are aware of this report by an online outlet that is blocked in Bangladesh," US Embassy spokesperson Bryan Schiller told journalists on Wednesday in a WhatsApp response.
He reiterated that the US was not taking sides or did not prefer one political party over others in Bangladesh.
"As Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter said yesterday (Tuesday), the United States supports free, fair and peaceful elections in Bangladesh. Elections are not just about how they are conducted on election day, but about allowing space for civil society, the media and other stakeholders to engage freely in the democratic process.
"Additionally, as the State Department spokesperson, Ambassador Haas and others have said many times, we do not take sides or prefer one political party over others in Bangladesh. We want the people of Bangladesh to be able to choose their own leaders," read his statement when asked for comment.
The online news portal news.in, which is published from outside Bangladesh, disseminated a report headlined–according to its URL, since the report cannot be opened–"US ultimatum to Hasina, exit constitutionally by Nov 3 or face the music.”
