US ambassador Peter Haas has sought meetings with three major political parties in Bangladesh as the election is approaching in Bangladesh.
The embassy in a statement said, Ambassador Haas has requested meetings with senior officials in all three major political parties to underscore the US position regarding the upcoming elections:
The United States wants free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner and calls on all sides to eschew violence and exercise restraint.
The United States does not favour any particular political party over the other.
The United States urges all sides to engage in dialogue without preconditions.
“The United States will continue to implement our 3C policy in an even-handed manner against those who undermine the democratic election process,” said the statement.
Jatiya Party, however, said they already had the meeting with Peter Haas.
A letter from Assistant Secretary Donald Lu was also handed over.
The letter contains the message that the embassy said in its statement.
When asked, State Minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the foreign ministry said: “We (foreign ministry) don’t represent parities.”
Replying to a question on the ambassador’s movement, he reiterated: “whether we like it or not there is a culture in Bangladesh. But sometimes we cross the boundaries.”
Source : Dhaka Tribune