PM reiterates commitment to hold free, fair, neutral election
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated her commitment to holding a free, fair and neutral election in the country.
"We always fought for the free, fair and neutral election in the country, and we have already held free, fair and neutral elections," she told visiting US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya when the latter called on her at Ganabhaban in the capital.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after their meeting.
Uzra Zeya said her country announced the new visa policy to assist Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's commitment to hold a free, fair and neutral election.
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"We don't have any partiality towards any party. We want a neutral, free and fair election," Zeya said.
Sheikh Hasina said since her student life she herself and even Bangabandhu's family and the Awami League always fought for the rights of the people.
"We always fight for the people's right to choose their representatives," she said.
She also said it was the BNP that started vote rigging in the country, which has been changed by the present Awami League government. She said transparent ballot boxes have been introduced for polls.
The premier recalled the atrocities, terrorism activities and arson attacks of the BNP and their allies during 2013-15 that killed 500 people.
She also mentioned the 21 August Grenade attack on her, when AL leaders and activists saved her through creating a human shield.
The visiting US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights said she already visited the Rohingya camps and talked to them.
She put emphasis on strengthening coordinated international efforts to ensure repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
Uzra Zeya mentioned that the US will provide some $74 million for the operational cost in Rohingya camps.
She highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina for hosting such a huge number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
Uzra Zeya told the premier that her country will cooperate with Bangladesh for its financial and economic development.
Prime Minister Hasina said Bangladesh is currently hosting more than one million Rohingyas in two different places of the country.
But, now human trafficking and anti-social activities are taking place in the camps which are very much alarming for the country's security, she added.
While talking about labour issues, Uzra Zeya said the US will help and work together with Bangladesh in labour reforms initiative.
In his connection, Sheikh Hasina highlighted that she personally motivated the owners of the industries to enhance the wages and other facilities of the workers several times.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Imran, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US Ambassador Peter Haas were present.
