US won't take sides, will work with any elected govt: Envoy

United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen said the United States will not take sides in the country’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election.

He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon after meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building on Wednesday (28 January).

“The outcome of the election is for the Bangladeshi people and only the Bangladeshi people to decide. We are prepared to work with any government who the Bangladeshi people elect to represent them going forward,” Christensen said.

“I just finished a very good meeting with the chief election commissioner to talk about the 12 February election. He explained to me a great deal about all of the policies, preparations, and procedures that the interim government has been doing in preparation for the 12 February election,” he said.

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“Last week when I met with the chief adviser, he told me he hopes that it will be a festive day for the election day. I share that hope. I hope that it is a festive election day, that the Bangladeshi people are able to go and express themselves and that you have a very successful election,” he said.

“As I said all the way back to my confirmation hearing before the US Senate, I am very excited about the upcoming elections. I’m very much looking forward to them and to seeing the outcome of those elections,” said the ambassador.

“I feel very good about the information the chief election commissioner shared with me and I look forward like all of you to seeing the result. Votes on 12 February,” he said.

Earlier, a three-member US delegation arrived at the Election Commission building in Agargaon and the meeting began around 12:00pm.

US delegation also included political officer David Mu and Firoz Ahmed. EC's Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed attended the meeting on behalf of the Election Commission.