US does not endorse one political candidate or party over another in Bangladesh

The United States supports the principle of free and fair elections in Bangladesh and around the world, and does not endorse one political candidate or party over another.

Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of US Department of State, made the remark when asked on the US's stance on a confrontation between BNP, which is demanding a caretaker government during the national election, and the ruling Awami League's stance that the election should be held under the current constitution.

“So let me say two things. First is that we want to and are looking forward to deepening our relationship with Bangladesh. That’s why Secretary Blinken is meeting – had the opportunity to meet with Bangladesh’s foreign minister today (April 10),” Patel said.

Patel reiterated that the US supports the principle of free and fair elections in Bangladesh and around the world, and he was not there to endorse one political candidate or party over another.

The briefing was held immediately after a bilateral meeting between US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen in Washington DC.

In response to another question, the US diplomat said the Digital Security Act is one of the world's most draconian laws for journalists, the US Department of State said in a briefing in Washington yesterday.

Patel said that one of the biggest reasons that Bangladesh fell to 10 places to 162 out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index was the Digital Security Act.

"As per our assessment, it [DSA] is one of the world's most draconian laws for journalists. And we have made our concerns about this law quite clear. A free press and an informed citizenry are key for any nation and its democratic future, and we are concerned that -- media and content restrictions and the impact that they might have."

On another question about sanction on RAB in December 2021 for serious human rights violations, Patel said “I’m not going to get into the specifics of any new actions or designations that the U.S. Government may take. But what I will say broadly is that – and you heard me speak to this on Thursday – we will examine the allegations in this article and video carefully. And our immense hope is that the Bangladeshi Government do the same. Perpetrators of any human rights abuses should be held accountable.”