Non-violence a component of free and fair election: State Dept
Diplomatic Correspondent
The United States has reiterated that the country wants to see a free and fair parliamentary election in Bangladesh without any violence as non-violence is an element of such polls.
“So you have heard me say consistently from this podium that we want to see free and fair elections held in Bangladesh, and one of the components of a free and fair election is that that election be conducted without violence,” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller at a regular briefing in Washington DC on Thursday.
Miller made the statement when asked if the US considers a wave of arson attacks on buses full of passengers and trucks, burning people alive, displacing rail tracks, and petrol bombing train coaches during blockades undermine the prelude to free and fair election in Bangladesh.
The 12th general election is scheduled to be held on 7 January, while the major opposition BNP and its allies have been observing nationwide blockades in phases to realise their demands, including resignation of the government and cancellation of the election schedule.
