Staff Reporter:
The US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas yesterday said his country remains neutral in the Bangla-desh’s upcoming national polls and Washington does not support any particular political party.
“We delivered the same message that we delivered to all political parties here which is the United States remains neutral in the upcoming elections (in Bangladesh),” he told reporters.
He made the remarks after holding a meeting with Awami League general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at his ministry.
The envoy said the US wants to see free and fair elections in Bangladesh conducted in a peaceful man-ner.
“We are on no particular political party’s side. We call upon all sides to de-escalate to eschew violence and try to figure out a way to have a dialogue without pre-conditions to help make the elections atmos-phere better,” he said.
Haas also raised deep concern about the “violent political rhetoric that has been directed against people in the US embassy”.
During the meeting, Haas handed over a letter of US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu to Quader.
