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Published : 16 Jan 2025, 11:33 PM
The American Ambassador to Delhi Eric Garcetti has said both the US and India want restoration of democracy and democratic elections as quickly as possible in Bangladesh.
He expressed the desire during an interview with the Indian media outlet World is One News, or WION.
WION journalist Dhiraj Patel said, “We saw [Sheikh] Hasina leaving [Bangladesh], that was seen as a setback for India. There is a rise of Jamaat [-e-Islami] as well as increased Chinese engagement. What is your sense like?”
In response, Garcetti said: “I think we both share the principle that we want to see a peaceful, democratic South Asia. And we share those principles. We are coordinating on that together. We have spoken out clearly that whether it is Bangladesh, or any country, religious minorities should not be persecuted.”
“And I think we have an opportunity. Both of us want to see democracy and democratic elections established in Bangladesh as soon as possible. And that can help Bangladesh open its next chapter. It’s not about the past. It's about what we can do together. And India and the United States have never acted together around the world more closely than today.”
The BNP and its allies are at odds with the interim government over the timing of the general election following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in the mass uprising.
During his speech on Victory Day, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus provided an indication about the possible election schedule.
He said the timing of the election would depend on the political consensus and the extent of reforms implemented before the polls.
"Broadly, the 13th parliamentary election could take place between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026," Yunus said.
However, far from being happy with Yunus' open-ended timeline, the BNP is demanding a specific date for the polls.
For its part, the government says the matter of announcing the election date will depend on the reports from the commissions formed under the state reform process.
Nonetheless, the BNP has urged the interim government to hold the 13th parliamentary election by the middle of this year.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: "We repeatedly emphasise that there is no alternative to an elected government. This is the most important issue for democracy. We believe that the election is possible by mid-year, that is, between July and August."
