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 has said that an uninterrupted democratic process for the past 13 years has been behind  the unprecedented development of Bangladesh. “You’ve noticed the change of Bangladesh in 13 years. And this development has been achieved only because the democratic process has continued in the country with the Awami League in power for these 13 years,” she said on Friday. The prime minister was addressing a civic reception accorded in her honour here on the occasion of her official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She joined the event virtually from her place of residence in Abu Dhabi, while Bangladeshi expatriates were connected from three venues --Bangladesh Consulate in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Theatre and Bangladesh English Private School and College in Ras Al Khaimah.  Hasina said there was no continuation of the democratic process in the country for several years after 1975. . “There was a black chapter after 1975. That dark cloud is gone. We’re now taking Bangladesh forward following the ideology of Father of the Nation,” she said adding that Bangladesh is marching forward and none would be able to take it back anymore. Noting that the country faced a problem during Covid-19 pandemic, she said now there is another new problem and that’s the situation created by the war between Ukraine and Russia. “So, we are passing through another abnormal situation... Fuel prices are going up and various problems have appeared in the international arena. We’re also facing some problems. But I believe that we can overcome this in Bangladesh,” she said. The PM asked the expatriates to tell their families and relatives back home not to leave any piece of land uncultivated to gain food autarky even in case of any global food crisis. Spelling out her government’s development activities, Hasina said there is no scope for anyone to remain unemployed in the country unless he or she wishes so. “If anyone takes a little initiative, the person would not remain unemployed,” she added. Read: Hasina says people will surely support motherly leadership like hers