International   

U.S. for elected regime next year

DHAKA: Washington wants to see a democratically elected government in Bangladesh next year, a senior State Department official has said. It will also not accept any deviation from the target of holding elections by end-2008.

U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs Richard A. Boucher told a press conference here on Friday: “The only path forward is to have an election. We would not accept any deviation from that path.” Mr. Boucher, who ended a two-day visit to Dhaka on Friday, said, “we don’t think you can have a good election under an emergency. We think the emergency has to be lifted. We think the rules for political activity need to be opened.”

He said he did not think there would be a military intervention in Bangladesh and that the possibility was not discussed during his meetings with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army chief Gen Moeen U. Ahmed.

On Thursday, Mr. Boucher told journalists after talks with foreign secretary Touhid Hussain, that Washington wanted to see democracy restored by year-end and a democratically elected government next year.

Mr. Boucher said that in addition to democracy and development, the U.S. wanted to see denial of space to terrorists in Bangladesh. “We have a very broad agenda that articulates the desire of the people of Bangladesh. We want restoration of democracy and economic development, which will lead to a peaceful society.” U.S. counter-terrorism coordinator Dell Dailey and U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh James F. Moriarty were present during the talks.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Hizbollah in control of most of Beirut
Medvedev warns on boundaries
LTTE blamed for Ampara blast; 11 killed, many injured
Obama’s focus on November
Ex-model in Cabinet
“Col” Karuna may face deportation
CA meet in two weeks
Morales to stand in recall vote
U.S. for elected regime next year
Australia to deport 11 “illegal” workers
Pakistan not for another war over Kashmir

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu