US stresses ‘credible, contested' municipal polls in BD

US acting Assistant Secretary of State Alice G Wells stressed the importance of "credible and contested" municipal elections in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
Wells, who wrapped up their three-day visit to Bangladesh on Thursday evening, discussed the issue during her meeting with opposition leaders from BNP and the Jatiya Party, said the US Embassy in Dhaka in a media release on Thursday night.
During her time in Dhaka, the acting assistant secretary also hosted roundtables with representatives of US apparel brands, and manufacturers and labour groups to hear more about ongoing efforts to improve labour rights and working conditions.
She met young leaders working to shape Bangladesh's future through innovative approaches to volunteerism, community outreach and development, and entrepreneurship.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick and acting Assistant Secretary Wells visited Bangladesh from November 5-7 to promote and expanded US-Bangladesh bilateral relations, increase commercial and security ties, and address the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis.
Their visits are among the many initiatives of the US government to promote greater cooperation, dialogue and mutual understanding between Bangladesh and the United States, and a strong partnership to help ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
They met government officials, international and implementing partners and key Bangladeshi communities to further relations between the United States and Bangladesh and address key areas of cooperation.