Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterates commitment to hold free, fair, neutral election
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterates her commitment to hold free, fair and neutral election in Bangladesh.
She said that we always fought for the free, fair and neutral election in Bangladesh, and we have already held free, fair and neutral election.
While visiting United States (US) Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka on Thursday July 13, Sheikh Hasina mentioned the statement.
After their meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the journalists.
US under Secretary Uzra Zeya said that America announces the new visa policy to assist Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to hold free, fair and neutral election. We don’t have any partiality towards any party. We want a neutral, free and fair election.
Sheikh Hasina added that she is personally from her student life and even Bangabandhu’s family and Awami League (AL) always fought for the rights of the people.We always fight for the people’s right to choose their representatives.
She also pointed out that it was BNP started vote rigging in the country, and it has been changed by the present Awami League government; so that transparent ballot boxes have been introduced for the election.
The Prime Minister recalls the atrocities, terrorism activities and arson attacks of BNP and their allies during 2013-15 that killed 500 people. And the August 21 Grenade attack on her, when Awami League leaders and activists saved her life through creating human shield.
US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya already visited the Rohingya camps and talked to them. She has given emphasize to strengthen coordinated international efforts to ensure repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
She highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina for hosting such a huge number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh. And she added that the United States will provide some US$74 million for the operational cost in Rohingya camps.She assures Sheikh Hasina that the United Sates will cooperate with Bangladesh for its financial and economic development.
Sheikh Hasina informed Uzra Zeya that at present Bangladesh hosting more than one million Rohingyas in two different places in the country. But human trafficking and anti-social activities are taking place in the camps, those are so much alarming for the security of Bangladesh.
Uzra Zeya further said that the Unied Staes will help and work together with Bangladesh in labour reforms initiative.
Sheikh Hasina said to Uzra Zeya, “I am personally motivated the owners of the industries to enhance the wages and other facilities of the workers several times.”
Among others, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US Ambassador Peter Haas, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F. Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Imran were present.
