Boucher meets Hasina, sees no barrier to Dec 18 polls

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US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher said he was hopeful about holding of the general elections in Bangladesh on December 18, reports UNB.
Boucher expressed his optimism during a meeting with Awami League (AL) president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Washington Thursday.
Boucher said the USA was closely monitoring the pre-election situation in Bangladesh and they saw no barrier to the polls slated for December 18.
He said the US government maintained contacts with the caretaker government and Washington had been assured that there was no doubt about the holding of the elections on the declared date.
Boucher urged all political parties to act with all responsibilities to ensure free and fair vote on December 18.
Hasina told Boucher that the December 18 polls could not be held in a free and fair manner under the emergency rules.