US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has shared the United States’ five key objectives for its relationship with Bangladesh to ensure a more peaceful and stable Bangladesh.

“We celebrate Bangladesh’s tangible and truly extraordinary economic achievements,” he said while addressing a “Meet the Ambassador” event organised by the Center for Governance Studies and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bangladesh Foundation here on Thursday (Sept 29).

Listing out the objectives, he said the goal number one is a more peaceful and stable Bangladesh, better able to provide for its own security, counter threats to US interests, and serve as a growing security contributor in the Indo-Pacific and globally.

He said the Prime Minister of Bangladesh last year shared her vision for a free, open, peaceful, secure and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, based on international law and shared prosperity for all.

While stating the goal number two, the US envoy said Bangladesh is committed to democracy, transparency, pluralism, tolerance, good governance, and respect for human rights.

“Simply put, democracies tend to do a better job of protecting human rights and generating and sustaining prosperity than other governance regimes. The promotion of democracy is particularly relevant as Bangladesh looks toward the upcoming parliamentary elections.”

He once again made it very clear that the United States does not favor any particular political party in Bangladesh. “What we want is a free and fair election conducted in accordance with international standards where the people of Bangladesh can freely choose their own government.”

He said that ensuring free and fair elections is everyone’s responsibility. From the Election Commission to the government, from the media to law enforcement agencies, from civil society to political parties, everyone has an important role to play.

“If any one of them fails to fulfill their responsibility or if any one of them prevents another from fulfilling their responsibility, free and fair elections would become nearly impossible,” he added.

Referring to the recent violent clashes at political rallies and demonstrations here in Bangladesh, he said free and fair elections simply cannot take place in an environment with political violence.

BDST: 2033 HRS, SEP 29, 2022
MN/SMS