UN, US slam poll violence in B’desh

United Nations/Washington, Jan 9: A day after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party emerged victorious at the polls, the US and UN voiced concern over violence and reports of irregularities on the day of elections, with Washington noting that the polls were not free or fair and regretted that not all parties participated in the ballot.
The US State Department, in a press statement Monday, said that Washington remains concerned by the arrests of thousands of political opposition members and by reports of irregularities on elections day in Bangladesh.
“The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair and we regret that not all parties participated,” the State Department said.
While noting that Hasina’s Awami League won a majority of seats in the January 7 parliamentary elections, the State Department said that Washington condemns violence that took place during elections and in the months leading up to it. “We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to credibly investigate reports of violence and to hold perpetrators accountable. We also urge all political parties to reject violence,” it said. (PTI)