Free, fair, peaceful polls incredibly important: Afreen

US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Afreen Akhter on Tuesday said she stressed the importance of free and fair elections in Bangladesh during her discussion with government officials here.

Talking to reporters, she highlighted that the polls need to be held in a peaceful manner. “We believe it is incredibly important that elections are conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner to support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stated commitment.”

Afreen, who did not make any comment after her meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Monday in Dhaka, said they also discussed allowing space for civil society, media, and all other actors to engage in the democratic process freely.

“We have discussed wide range of issues, including on broad multifaceted relationship with Bangladesh which includes economic growth, trade and investment, our longstanding development partnership, women's economic empowerment and whole host of other issues,” the US official said.

“Bangladesh and the United States want free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner,” said the US Embassy in Dhaka after Afreen’s meeting with the foreign secretary.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas and senior officials of the foreign ministry were present. They discussed the “strong multifaceted” bilateral relationship between the two countries and its many aspects.

The US direct investment and trade, longstanding development partnership, the Middle East, the recent visit of the independent and nonpartisan election survey team, and supporting Rohingya refugees came up for discussion.

Referring to her meeting with Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman on Tuesday, the US deputy assistant secretary said any repatriation of the Rohingyas should be “voluntary, dignified and safe.”

She said there should not be any forced efforts in repatriation as the conditions in Myanmar are not conducive for the purpose at the moment.

“We will continue to work closely with the government of Bangladesh and the international community to find a lasting solution that includes their safe repatriation,” she said.

Afreen appreciated Bangladesh’s efforts and its “incredible generosity” in hosting the Rohingyas. “We really appreciate the generosity.”

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them fled their homes in Myanmar to escape a 2017 crackdown.