US for free, fair polls

The US has urged the authorities concerned to carry out their responsibilities to ensure free, fair and nonviolent polls to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations.

"We have called on those who are administering them and participating in the elections to uphold their responsibility to ensure they are free, fair, and nonviolent," said Marie Harf, acting spokesperson of the US State Department.

"There could be no room here for violence or intimidation. That's the message we've been sending to the Bangladeshis as they go forward here," she told a daily press briefing in Washington, DC on Thursday.

In reply to questions on the polls, she said the US had encouraged the Bangladesh government and election commission to protect citizens' rights to free expression and association during the campaign, again, to ensure free, fair election on polling day.

"We also expect all parties to follow democratic practices, and really, there could be no room here for violence or intimidation. That's the message we've been sending to the Bangladeshis as they go forward here."

Responding to another question about the arrest of a councillor candidate and the split order on bail of BNP-blessed mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas, she said, "I hadn't seen those reports today. Let me check with our team and see if there's more to say about this."