By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh’s caretaker government has received an approving nod from the US, but with a rider against human rights violations while dealing with politicians and officials being detained and put on trial.
Visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs John A. Gastright endorsed the electoral reforms and political reforms that the government of Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed has been undertaking since January, including the end-2008 timetable for the ninth general elections.
Ahmed told him that his government, working “relentlessly” on the twin reforms, would endeavour to hold the polls before that deadline.
But the US qualified its approval with a caution about human rights violations. This came up in the context of the detention of the two former prime ministers, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, and their close relations and political associates – all charged with corruption and misuse of office.
“The US position on arrests of individuals, (no matter) whether they are former prime ministers or not, is that the government must respect due process and human rights,” Gastright told reporters.
He was asked if the arrest of the two women leaders would frustrate the spirit of holding free, fair and participatory elections, New Age newspaper said.
“I was frank regarding our concerns about human rights issues and due process for those detained under the state of emergency, whether on corruption charges or accused of other violations of the emergency rules,” he later told an interactive meeting with a group of editors.
“The US supports the caretaker government for electoral reforms, foundation for free and fair election, efforts to empower the institutions of sustainable democracy and ultimate goal of holding election to establish a government enjoying people’s confidence,” he said.
He ruled out the possibility of the emergence of Islamist extremist forces in Bangladesh, a matter that has concerned the West, especially since the 9/11 terror attacks, but insisted that secular political parties should be “much more engaged with the people to win their confidence and avoid such possibility.
“I like to point out that free and fair elections are a two-way street. People (too) have the responsibility to make certain that they are supporting candidates that are powered by the new institutional framework,” Gastright said.
The official expressed happiness with the pace of work done by the Election Commission that is tasked with holding elections.
He also paid what the media called a “courtesy call” to army chief, Moin U. Ahmed.