The United States has urged the Bangladesh government to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for all arrested individuals. It also called on the Bangladesh government to allow opposition members, media professionals and civil society representatives to participate meaningfully in the country’s democratic process and civic life. “We will continue to engage with the Bangladesh government to advance that point of view,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular briefing in Washington on January 30. New USAID-funded disaster shelter and school opens in Cox’s Bazar Though international observers described January 7 election in Bangladesh as “free and fair,” the US State Department spokesperson said they did not find the national polls to be free and fair. The US also expressed concerns over the arrest of political opposition members in the run-up to those elections. Miller said US will continue to engage with the Bangladesh government to advance democratic principles, which are key to ensuring peace and prosperity for all Bangladeshis. US says will continue to take steps to deepen partnership with Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the absolute win of Awami League in the January 7 election was the victory of Bangladesh, its people, and continuation of democracy and development. The prime minister was addressing several hundred expatriate Awami League leaders from across the globe gathered at her official residence Ganabhaban to congratulate her on her party's fourth consecutive win in the parliamentary election Hasina, who is also the chief of ruling Awami League, said that her government has been able to ensure people's right to vote in this month's election.  “We have ensured the constitutional right of the people,” she said. She also said that the election was highly competitive as Awami League has opened the contest to all. Read: Don’t allow the ‘looters’ to come to power: PM Hasina tells Bangladeshi expatriates in South Africa “We have given our electoral symbol boat to our candidates and asked others from the party to participate in the election whoever were interested,” she said. Talking about BNP which did not participate in the election, she questioned how will they come to the election.  “In 2008 election BNP with their 20 party alliance got 30 seats only while AL alone bagged 233 seats,” she added. That election was held under a neutral caretaker government. In this connection, she mentioned that many people thought in 2008 that BNP is equal to Awami League considering the organisational strength.  “But it was proved wrong in 2008 election,” she said. Read: 1.49 crore Bangladeshi expatriates work in 176 countries After that, she said, BNP never wanted election. They insread unleashed arson attacks killing people and set fire to trains to foil the elections.  “The more they (BNP) unleash the arson attack the more people will reject them. They know that they were rejected by the people,” she said. The prime minister said that's  why  BNP does not want to participate in the election. “Rather they wanted to spoil the election and looked to the illegal way to be in the power,” she said. Also read: Expatriates send $1.65 bn in 26 days of May