US writes to AL, BNP and Jatiya Party for 'unconditional talk'

The United States has urged Bangladesh's three major political parties -- Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party -- to engage in "unconditional dialogue" to break a deadlock over polls.
Just days before the announcement of the schedule for the next national elections, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu sent letters to the three political parties on Monday, urging them to engage in dialogue amid escalating political tensions.
US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter D Haas delivered the letter to the Jatiya Party at their party office, according to Jatiya Party Secretary-General Mujibul Haque.
Mujibul Haque said the letter mainly focused on three points. First, the United States wants to see a free, fair and participatory election in Bangladesh. Second, Washington wants "unconditional dialogue" to resolve ongoing political impasse. Third, the letter reiterated the visa policy adopted by the US to facilitate free and fair elections.
Referring to the US ambassador, he said that the letter would also be delivered to the Awami League and the BNP.
However, on Monday evening, Awami League Office Secretary Biplab Barua informed local media that they had not yet received any such letter. Similarly, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that they had not yet received the letter.
The BNP leader added that they would share the details once they received it.
However, in a media note issued on Monday afternoon, US Embassy Dhaka spokesperson Stephen Ibelli clarified that Ambassador Peter Haas was holding meetings with senior leaders of the political parties to reiterate the US position on the upcoming election. The ambassador would personally deliver the letter to the party leaders.
Referring to the letter, Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque said that it conveyed the United States' expectation of free, fair, impartial and participatory elections in Bangladesh. It also called for "unconditional dialogue".
Peter Haas met with Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader at the party office in Dhaka's Banani on Monday. After the meeting, Mujibul Haque briefed the journalists.
He said, "The US ambassador has brought a letter written by their Assistant Minister for Central and South Asian Affairs, Donald Lu. He handed over the letter to our party chairman. Peter Haas said that the same letter is being given to all three political parties."

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