Erosion of democracy anywhere in the world, including in Bangladesh, will limit the US' ability to cooperate with one another, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said following a daylong visit to Bangladesh today.
In general, US-Bangladesh relationship has great potentials, which is why there has been consistent stream of officials visiting Bangladesh, he said in an interaction with a group of editors of the country at the American Centre in the city.
"…the United States' strongest partnerships in the world are with strong democracies. And, to the extent democracy is weakening anywhere, it's going to be a limiting factor in our ability to cooperate," said Chollet, who led a high-level seven-member delegation to Bangladesh on February 14-15.
"It doesn't mean we won't cooperate, it doesn't mean our relationship won't be important, but it just will be a limiting factor when it comes to business investment," he added.
Chollet, an official of the rank of undersecretary, said the US companies want transparency, rule of law, accountability when they invest in a country.
He arrived in Dhaka yesterday evening and called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and other officials. In the afternoon, he interacted with the senior journalists.
He said Bangladesh is a development success story in the region, and has done a great job by sheltering the more than a million Rohingyas. The US is committed to the strengthening the relationship with Bangladesh as with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
During his meetings with the top leaders of Bangladesh, he stressed importance on democracy, free and fair election, freedom of the press, strong civil society.
Asked what may happen if there is no free and fair elections in Bangladesh, Chollet said he does not want to speculate anything about it.
"I have confidence there can be a free and fair election. The government has said they want to have a free and fair election. We've made no secret of concerns we have had about the treatment of certain advocates in civil society, particularly in human rights, concerns about previous elections," he said.
He said the US will continue to voice those concerns in the months to come." But sure, we have confidence and we have heard from the government today their commitment to hold a free and fair election. And we'll hold into that."
