US for new elections in Bangladesh

Terming the January 5 election a ‘deeply flawed’ one, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal on Tuesday said this could have serious ramifications for stability in Bangladesh and the region as the election did not credibly express the will of Bangladeshi people. “I want to state very clearly that our interest in holding new elections is to ensure a free and fair process,” she said in her opening remark at a fresh hearing to examine the ‘prospects for democratic reconciliation and workers’ rights in Bangladesh held at the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington. Biswal said the United States has not taken sides or played favorites in who should lead the country. “That decision should be left to the Bangladeshi people, whose voices were not fairly heard on January 5.” She expressed her hope that Bangladesh’s political and economic leaders in Bangladesh will take the right steps to support democratic values, foreign direct investment, and a growing economy. “Bangladesh has come too far and has too much to lose.” Acting Associate Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, US Department of Labor, Eric Biel, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, Ellen Tauscher and Executive Director, Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, Kalpona Akter also took part in the hearing. Committee Chair Senator Robert Menendez presided over the hearing that began at 10am (Washington DC time), according to UNB.