US for Bangladesh-India friendly ties

Washington wants to see a friendly relation between Bangladesh and India as partners to combat terrorism, US Assistant Secretary Nisha Desai Biswal has said. She made the remarks at a discussion in New Jersey on Wednesday. The US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia visited Bangladesh last year ahead of January 5 elections to try to broker peace among the bickering political parties. But her initiative failed. After holding the election boycotted by the BNP, the Awami League formed government for the 2nd successive term. The US questioned the acceptability of the Jan 5 polls. India, on the other hand, endorsed the election saying that it was necessary to hold the election for continuance of democracy in Bangladesh. After the BJP came to power in India defeating the Congress in the election, many feared that Bangladesh-India relation would deteriorate. Congress was in power during the Jan 5 elections. But the Narendra Modi’s government has shown a positive attitude towards the Awami League government. Nisa Biswal attended the discussion on the US policy on the new Indian government organised by Federation of Indian Association, according to bdnews24.com.