Ahead of political rallies of the ruling and opposition parties in Dhaka, the United States has reiterated that political violence has no place in a democracy and that the US favors no political party in Bangladesh. "I will reiterate that political violence has no place in a democracy, and in the United States, we favor no political party," Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Vedant Patel said in a regular media briefing in Washington on July 27. Also read: Thousands of BNP leaders, activists gathering at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan to join grand rally He said they support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful elections. Also read: Bangladesh makes progress “in reducing constraints on investment”: US Patel said they have also emphasized the importance of the United States and Bangladesh working together to achieve this goal. "We certainly continue to believe that this endeavor has no space or room for political violence," he said. Also read: US supports Bangladesh’s goal of holding a free, fair and peaceful election: State Dept  

The US-Bangladesh Business Council, in collaboration with American NGO Project CURE, has donated essential medical supplies to Dhaka to help bolster the country’s fight against Covid-19. The donation includes 60 oxygen concentrators, variable positive air pressure (VPAP) units and other oxygen supplies, and device accessories, including 45,000 pieces of personal protective gear, including KN95 and N95 masks, for corona patients in medical colleges across the country. Read: US-Bangladesh Business Council to be launched April 6 In the coming weeks, the Council will mobilise additional medical supplies, including a shipment of 100 emergency relief beds, the US Embassy in Dhaka said in a release. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jo Anne Wagner and US-Bangladesh Business Council representatives joined officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Directorate General of Health Services in welcoming the special delivery of essential medical supplies. The initiative was taken by US-Bangladesh Business Council members Chevron, Excelerate Energy, Metlife, and HSBC Bangladesh with support and coordination from the US Embassy in Dhaka, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services. Chargé d’Affaires Wagner said they must and will continue to use their collective resources to fight this pandemic together to protect health and save precious lives. Wagner said she is proud to see American business leaders come together as invaluable partners with this generous gift meant to help meet the critical health needs of the Bangladeshi people.  “The Council members have come together to stand in support with our friends and partners in Bangladesh to tackle the surge in the pandemic with urgently needed supplies of medical equipment that we hope can provide life-saving care,” said Nisha Biswal, President of the US-Bangladesh Business Council.  Read: US to strengthen relations with Bangladesh