The United States has encouraged authorities in Bangladesh "to thoroughly investigate the incidents at the October 28 rally and to hold those responsible for violence accountable."
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller made the comment while replying to a question in Washington on the BNP's Saturday rally, which was foiled following clashes with police.
"We condemn the political violence that took place in Dhaka on October 28," Miller said.
"The reported killing of a police officer, a political activist, and the burning of a hospital and buses are unacceptable, as is violence against civilians, including journalists," he added.
"The holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone – voters, political parties, the government, the security forces, civil society and the media."
Replying to another question, he said diplomats talked to a wide variety of people – civil society organizations, media professionals, business leaders, cultural contributors, educators and many other types of organizations and individuals. "That is what diplomats do as part of their everyday jobs, and we’ll continue to do so."
"We have made clear that we will take actions if necessary to support democracy in Bangladesh, and I would never preview those from the podium," he said when a Bangladeshi social media activist living in the US, Jacob Milton, asked whether the US would designate Chatra League and Jubo League – the student and youth wings of the ruling Awami League – as terrorist organizations, insisting that ruling party men were committing acts of violence in the name of the opposition.
