US, allies want independent, non-partisan EC in Bangladesh: Marcia Bernicat

US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat has said that Washington and its allies are urging the Bangladesh government to select the new electoral commission through an “inclusive and transparent” process in order to make it “independent, strong and non-partisan”.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Nov 2016, 02:34 PM
Updated : 28 Nov 2016, 05:01 PM

She also said that bilateral relations between the US and Bangladesh would remain as strong as they are today even after the new administration of Donald Trump takes over on Jan 2O.

The ambassador was replying to questions from diplomatic correspondents in Dhaka on Monday under DCAB talk, a flagship event of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh.

Contemporary issues, including conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, also came up during the question-answer discussion. The ambassador appreciated Bangladesh’s position on the Rohingya issue.

DCAB President Angur Nahar Monty and General Secretary Pantho Rahaman moderated the talk at the EMK Centre.

EC formation first tangible step

The current EC, which supervised the last parliamentary elections in the absence of the opposition BNP, has its term running out in Feb next year.

The President constitutes the EC, but there are no set rules how its members will be picked. The current EC was formed through a search committee.

“We took real interest and notice that the Prime Minister herself during the Awami League council said that she does not want to have questionable elections next time.

The new General Secretary also said the same thing. The formation of the new electoral commission would be first tangible step the government takes to make that reality,” the ambassador said.

“The US and a number of other like-minded countries are urging and advocating that there be an inclusive, transparent process to select a new electoral commission and that is key to holding the best election possible,” she said.

“We want to see an independent, strong and non-partisan electoral commission that takes every step between now and the day people actually go to the polls that will ensure everyone who wants to vote can cast a vote and every vote cast can be counted. The preparations begin long before Election Day. The formation of the EC is the first step,” she said.

Bangladesh working with Myanmar skillfully

On Myanmar, where fresh violence in Rakhine state has forced Muslim minority Rohingyas to flee the country, the ambassador said the US had been putting pressure on the Myanmar government both before and after the elections, urging it to respect the rights of all people who live in the country.

“We have greatly admired the fact that the Bangladesh government has very patiently and very skillfully been working the on the issue bilaterally with the government of Burma,” she said.

At this point of time, the US is asking for access to the region for sometime so that humanitarian assistance can be sent and what is happening can be determined.

“The idea is to determine what is happening and what is going on. We call for a full, formal and transparent investigation of the situation,” she said.

“And then (the Myanmar authorities can) participate with the international community to find solutions to the situation,” she said.

She said her counterpart in Burma had recently travelled to Rakhine, which she said was a “very positive development”. Noted the US envoy, “We are monitoring the situation very closely.”

She said the United States was also looking to work with like-minded nations on this situation as the Bangladesh government had called for an international response to the crisis.

Relations with Bangladesh will remain strong

Replying to questions on the change of administration in the US and its impact on relations with Bangladesh, she said she was confident that the ties between the two nations would remain as strong as they have been till now.

“We are absolutely confident that the next transition will be like the others. The goals and the values of the US do not change from administration to administration very much. Yes, each President puts his mark on the types of things he wants to achieve. 

“But don’t forget the real strength of democracy lies on the institutions and the people,” she said, explaining the US system in which three branches -- the judiciary, congress and president – share power.

She also encouraged Bangladeshi businesses to invest in the US.

On immigration, she said it was governed by the US immigration and nationality act and in no way does it allow immigration based on religion, affiliation and identification.

“We want people to visit the US. We want people to come as tourists. We want them to get to know us. We want business people to come. We want students to come to study,” she said.

She noted that Bangladesh was the 11th largest country sending graduates to the US for studies.

The ambassador also thanked the Bangladesh police for their response to the July 1 terrorist attack response, but said there was no room for complacency considering the nature of the terrorist attacks.

“We have to be vigilant. The terrorists or the enemy is so insidious, so flexible that we can’t say that those efforts are enough. The task is so difficult”.