Dhaka: The United States condemned the violence surrounding municipal elections in Dhaka, said acting spokesperson of the US Department of State Marie Harf in the a press briefing on Tuesday (21 April) in Washington, DC.

‘We’ve also urged the security forces to permit free expression and association during the election campaign, to protect candidates against political violence, and to prosecute those who violate the law,’ said Harf.

The US embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday also put out a statement on this expressing similar view.

A journalist attended the press briefing asked Harf if she had seen the reports about the violence and attack on the opposition leader in Bangladesh?

In response Harf said, ‘I think the embassy has put out a statement on this as well, but I can gist it for you: that we deplore the political violence surrounding municipal elections in Dhaka – that’s what this specific statement was about – condemn in the strongest terms the use of violence for political objectives. And we’ve called on everyone involved in the municipal elections to uphold their responsibility to ensure the elections are free, fair, and nonviolent’. 

The journalist later asked, ‘Do you think the current government is insensitive or is not able to protect the opposition leader?’

Harf said ‘I think I just said what we have to say on this.  I don’t have much else for you’.

When Harf was asked if she has ‘any updated information about former state minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who’s been disappeared for a long time?’ she replies that she doesn’t ‘have any additional information’ in this regard.