US ambassador for avoiding violence to hold peaceful polls

Desk Report: US Ambassador Earl R Miller has urged all to avoid violence for ensuring a peaceful environment ahead of the 11th parliamentary polls so that all political parties and candidates can continue election campaign across the country freely slated on December 30.

“Violence creates obstacle on the way of democracy. All should be avoided the violence. Violence hinders the democratic process,” he told the reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda at Nirbachan Bhaban in city’s Agargaon on Tuesday.

Miller said, “The US does not support any party or any candidate. We only support democratic values and democratic process.”

All parties should be free to participate in the polls and political process. They should be free to express their political views, campaign and hold peaceful rallies and meetings, he added.

Noting freedom of expression is vital for healthy democracy, he said democracy flourishes through frequent and lively debate.

The ambassador said around 10.40 crore people will take in the voting. “We, all, are looking the election and the government of Bangladesh is committed to hold a free, fair and credible election,” he added.

The US, he said, will be supporting election observation teams adding that US-funded National Democratic Institute (NID) sent a five-member pre-assessment mission to Bangladesh in October followed by the second pre-assessment mission in December.

Miller said the US embassy will deploy separate election observation teams across Bangladesh.

The US Ambassador said the NDI’s sub-grant partner, the Asian Network for Free Election, has dedicated two international electoral analysts to cover the election and will be sending international long- and short-term observers. _BSS

risingbd/Dhaka/December 11, 2018/AKA