The United States has called on the bickering parties in Bangladesh to shun violence that has left four people killed and scores injured, reports bdnews24.com.
"We are concerned about reports of violence and urge all sides to refrain from acts of violence," a State Department spokesperson told the news agencies Tuesday.
The official said Washington regretted "the loss of life, injury, and damage to property".
The Obama administration on Tuesday also asked the Bangladesh government to guarantee freedom of 'peaceful political expression".
"We urge the government to ensure people can freely exercise their right to peaceful political expression and call on all parties to eschew violence and intimidation," the spokesperson added.
A huge political storm appears to be blowing up over the past several days after both the Awami League and the BNP announced parallel programmes on the first anniversary of the last general election Monday.
A sting of clashes, however, between BNP supporters, and police and ruling party activists, twined with acts of arson across the country marked the day.
Four people were shot dead in three districts and a huge number of people injured during clashes.
After failing to attend a party rally, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, practically confined by police in her office for the last three days, announced an indefinite nationwide blockade starting from Tuesday.
America had said the polls, boycotted by the BNP-led coalition, were "not credible" and also called for a fresh election as soon as possible with a mutually acceptable poll-time dispensation.
US urges BD parties to shun violence
FE Team | Published: January 07, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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