Like the European Union, the US will also not send its observers for the Jan 5 parliament polls.
Published : 23 Dec 2013, 09:36 AM
A statement issued by State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said the US would be interested to send poll observers at a later date when there is a 'more conducive environment'.
Psaki said in the statement that the US was disappointed because the major political parties are yet to reach a consensus.
"…since more than half of the the parliamentary seats are uncontested for the January 5 polls.... the United States will not deploy observers for these elections," reads the statement by the State Department spokesperson.
It said that the US urged the parties to continue talks and 'redouble' efforts to broker a solution.
The statement noted that both the political leadership and 'those who aspire to lead' must ensure law and order is maintained and refrain from supporting violence, inflammatory rhetoric, and intimidation.
The people of Bangladesh deserve the opportunity to elect their national representatives in a climate free of violence and intimidation, reads the statement.
Violence is not acceptable because it subverts the democratic process, the statement quoted Psaki saying.