US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen on Wednesday stressed that the outcome of the upcoming national election belongs solely to the people of Bangladesh and said the United States is ready to work with whichever government is elected.
Christensen made the remarks after meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat in Agargaon, Dhaka, where discussions focused on preparations for the Feb. 12 parliamentary election and referendum.
“The United States does not take sides in Bangladesh’s election. The outcome belongs to the people of Bangladesh, and only they will decide it. Whoever the people elect, we are ready to work with that government in the future,” Christensen told reporters.
Christensen, who recently assumed his role in Dhaka, said he was “very excited” about the polls. “I hope it will be a joyful election where the people of Bangladesh can freely go to the polls and express their opinions, and that it will be a very successful election,” he added.
The ambassador led a three-member US delegation for his first formal EC visit, attended by EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. Christensen was briefed on policies, preparations, and procedures adopted by the interim government and EC to ensure a credible election.
On reports citing US diplomatic assessments of Islamist parties’ prospects, Christensen reaffirmed Washington’s neutrality. “We want to see the verdict of the voters of Bangladesh. The election result is for the people of Bangladesh.”
The delegation showed interest in the postal ballot system, vote counting, and complaint management. “They wanted to know how postal ballots are cast, counted, received, and how timelines differ from referendum ballots. We demonstrated the process using sample ballots. They commented it is a complex and demanding process and wished us good luck,” Ahmed said.
Christensen also inquired about law enforcement excesses. “So far, no such incidents have come to our knowledge at the central level, and if any arise locally, they are addressed there,” the secretary added.
No official US observers will be deployed, but embassy officials will observe polls in Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong, and Khulna with EC support. About 950,000 security personnel will be deployed to ensure a peaceful vote.
The February 12 election, held alongside a referendum, is being closely watched nationally and internationally amid ongoing political transitions.
