M Mushfiqul Fazal, State Department
Mentioning that the US supports the need for free and fair elections, the US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby has said nothing’s changed about that.
He said, “We want to see the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people fully realized, and the United States will consistently try to champion those aspirations.”
Kirby made the remarks on Wednesday at Foreign Press Center while his attention was drawn to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s criticism in a programme that “The US wants to gain control over the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal region, making excuse to attack and to destroy other countries in the name of democracy, free, fair election, and human rights,” and 160 world leaders’ open letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressing concern about safety and freedom of Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Video: FPC, Department of State
In the briefing, State Department correspondent M Mushfiqul Fazal asked, “Bangladesh ruling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused that the US wants to gain control over the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal region, making excuse to attack and to destroy other countries in the name of democracy, free, fair election, and human rights. What is your response?
And I want to ask another question, if I may. I want to draw your attention to a report of the New York Times titled “Quietly Crushing a Democracy: Millions on Trial in Bangladesh.” Millions of Bangladeshis, including former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus facing judicial harassment. A total of 160 world leaders, including former US President Barack Obama, secretary of state Hillary Clinton and 100 Nobel laureates wrote an open letter to Bangladesh ruling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing concern over the judicial harassment of Yunus. What is your position about Professor Yunus?”
In reply, Kirby said, “We obviously support democratic institutions in Bangladesh. We support the will of the Bangladeshi people. We support the need for free and fair elections. Nothing’s changed about that.”
He further said, “We want to see the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people fully realized, and the United States will consistently try to champion those aspirations.”
NR/
