Zeya meets PM Hasina

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democ-racy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Thursday, discussing matters that include Bangladesh polls.

They discussed efforts to advance a prosperous future built on strong democratic institutions, including free and fair elections, the vital role of civil society and independent media, promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association and labour rights, said officials.

They also discussed the strong and growing partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, including coordination on issues from humanitarian assistance to gender equality.

The under secretary and the prime minister also discussed Bangladesh's generous hosting of Rohingya refugees and their continuing need for support from the global community.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her commitment to holding free, fair and neutral elections in the country.

"We have always fought for free, fair and neutral elections in the country, and we have already held free, fair and neutral elections," she said.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

Uzra Zeya said her country announced the new visa policy to assist Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's commitment to holding free, fair and neutral elections.

"We do not have any partiality toward any party. We want a neutral, free and fair election," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that she personally, from her student days, and even Bangabandhu's family and the Awami League (AL) have always fought for the rights of the people.

"We always fight for the people's right to choose their representatives," she said.

She also said that it was the BNP that started vote rigging in the country, which has been changed by the present AL government. In this connection, she said that transparent ballot boxes have been introduced for the polls.

She also mentioned the August 21 grenade attack on her, when AL leaders and activists saved her by creating a human shield.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh is currently hosting more than one million Rohingyas in two different parts of the country. However, she added that human trafficking and anti-social activities are taking place in the camps, which are a serious threat to the country's security.

The visiting US under secretary said she had already visited the Rohingya camps and spoken to the refugees.

She expressed her deep appreciation to Sheikh Hasina for hosting such a large number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

She emphasised the need to strengthen coordinated international efforts to ensure the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.

Ms Zeya said that the United States is proud to have provided more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and the region since August 2017.

The under secretary also shared that the United States is providing more than $74 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support the ongoing response efforts in Burma and Bangladesh, including nearly $61 million to support Rohingyas internally displaced in Burma, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and their host communities, including in Bangladesh.

Ms Zeya said that given declining donor support and rising camp insecurity, the United States strongly encourages Bangladesh to expand livelihood opportunities for Rohingya refugees while urging continued support by other donors and potential donors.

The United States is also maintaining pressure on Burma's military regime to end the crisis and create the conditions for the eventual voluntary return of Rohingyas to their homeland in a manner that is safe, dignified, informed and sustainable, the under secretary told the PM.

Zeya told the prime minister that her country would cooperate with Bangladesh in its financial and economic development.

While discussing labour issues, Zeya said that the US would help and work with Bangladesh in its labour reform initiative.

In response, Sheikh Hasina said that she had personally urged the owners of industries to increase wages and improve working conditions for workers on several occasions.

Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Imran, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US Ambassador Peter Haas were present in the meeting.

The under secretary is in Bangladesh from July 11 with a delegation of senior US government officials from the Department of State, the US Agency for International Development and the National Security Council.

They are meeting with senior government officials, civil society members, Rohingya refugees and representatives from humanitarian organisations.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com