Free, fair elections not possible under Awami League govt in Bangladesh: Fakhrul tells Peter Haas
Dhaka/ UNI: Bangladesh’s Opposition party BNP in a meeting with US ambassador Peter Haas on Tuesday accused the ruling Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Haseena of destroying the democratic institutions, including the electoral processes.
In an hour-long meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the US embassy in Dhaka is the second meeting between the secretary general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Earlier, he had met with Hass on April 16 accompanied by two other leaders of the party.
The BNP leader told UNI that the US ambassador wanted to know BNP’s stance and reaction over the fresh visa policy the United States announced to ensure free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
"We think as the government has destroyed the democratic institutions, including the electoral processes, the United States as a democratic country has come up with this visa policy to ensure free and fair elections in the country. This is our stand as presented to Peter Haas," said the BNP leader.
The US ambassador sought Fakhrul’s opinion on the overall situation, including the alleged political crisis in the country and the next elections.
Replying to the query, the BNP leader said his party thinks it is not possible to hold free and fair elections under the current government.