US ambassador disappointed over poll violence

After visiting a polling centre at Dhaka North City Corporation, she said she was happy to see voters coming out for voting.

But she said she was disappointed to hear reports of violence at polling stations in other two corporations.

“That’s very disappointing,” she told journalists after visiting few booths at Banani Bidyaniketan School and College.

This is her first experience of elections in Bangladesh after she presented her credentials in February this year.

She said she was “pleased” to see an election in Bangladesh so early.

She had earlier condemned violence during the campaigning.

Asked about her position on BNP’s mid-way poll boycott, she said the Election Commission would have to look into it.

“Government promised free and fair elections and that's what people are expecting,” she said.

She, however, expected that parties would not resort to violence.

“There is a democracy (in Bangladesh) and people need to use that democratic space,” she said.

She also applauded those who came out “to help administer the elections and make sure that it is free and fair”.

“To make the votes meaningful people have to able to cast votes. Who came out today should be able to do so,” she said.