Washington is of the view that all parties and Bangladeshi citizens have the right to freely and peacefully express their views.
“The United States believes that in a democracy all parties and Bangladeshi citizens have the right to freely and peacefully express their views,” Press and Information Officer Kelly McCarthy of the US Embassy in Dhaka told the Dhaka Tribune in an email reacting to BNP programme.
BNP on December 24 announced a “march for Democracy,” a much-hyped demonstration scheduled to be held in front of its Nayapaltan office Sunday.
However, the government foiled the event by imposing a blockade to isolate Dhaka from the rest of the country.
The government was responsible for providing space for such activity, and equally the opposition was responsible for using such space in a peaceful manner, Kelly said.
“We believe it is more urgent than ever for the major parties to redouble their efforts to engage in constructive dialogue to find a way forward, and hold free and fair elections that are credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people.”
Violence was not acceptable because it subverted the democratic process and it must stop immediately, she added.
Despite being denied permission by the authorities, BNP and its allies went ahead with their programme, just six days before the 10th parliamentary polls.
