Visiting US Department of State's Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya on Thursday said her country announced the new visa policy to supplement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to hold free, fair and neutral election.
She made the statement while calling on the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters in a briefing.
“We do not have any bias towards any party, we want a neutral, free and fair election,” Zeya was quoted as telling the PM.
PM Hasina said that it is her commitment to hold free and fair election in the country.
Also read: US seeks worldwide partners' assistance for Rohingyas: Uzra Zeya
“We always fought for free and fair election in the country, we already have held free and fair election,” she said.
She mentioned that Awami League always fought for the rights of the people.
“We always fight for people’s right to choose their representatives,” she said.
She also mentioned that it was BNP who started vote rigging in the country. In this connection, she said that transparent ballot boxes have been introduced for polls.
Hasina recalled the atrocities, terrorism activities and arson attacks of BNP and their allies during 2013-15 that left 500 people killed.
Also read: Uzra Zeya reiterates US' hope for "peaceful, fair" elections process in Bangladesh
She also mentioned about the grenade attack on her rally in Dhaka on August 21 in 2004 that left 24 people killed and over 500 injured. She said she was saved by Awami League leaders and activists who formed a human shield after the attack during BNP-Jamaat rule.
Zeya told the PM that she visited Rohingya camps and talked to the displaced people from Myanmar.
She put emphasis on strengthening coordinated international efforts to ensure reparation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
She mentioned that US will provide some USD 74 million for the operational cost in Rohingya camps.
Also read: Legal framework enough to hold free, fair elections: Law secretary to EU mission
She highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina for hosting such a huge number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
PM Hasina said that Bangladesh currently is hosting more than one million Ronhigays in two different areas of the country.
She also said that human trafficking and anti-social activities are going on in these camps which are very much alarming for the country’s security.
The under secretary said that her country will cooperate with Bangladesh for its financial and economic development.
She said that the US will help and work together with Bangladesh in labour reforms initiative.
In his connection, Hasina said that she personally pushed the owners of industries to enhance the wages and other facilities for the workers various times.
Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to 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.
Also read: US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya, Donald Lu visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar