<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The United States has once again said it supports "free and fair" elections in Bangladesh.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">"We think the future of the Bangladeshi government should be determined by its people," US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular media briefing on Monday (November 13, 2023) when a reporter wanted to know why the US government must discuss Bangladesh-related issues with India.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miller said the United States is not taking a side in Bangladesh’s elections.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We do not support one political party over the other. We support free and fair elections," he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miller also said, "I welcome the attempts by various reporters to draw me into internal Bangladeshi political matters, and I’m going to continue to refrain from doing so."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Monday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam reiterated that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held as per the constitution, regardless of “who’s doing what.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said election is an internal matter of the people of Bangladesh and the election will be held under the constitution and relevant laws.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Election Commission is taking preparations to hold the next national election by January next year and is likely to announce polls schedules soon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, Law Minister Anisul Huq conveyed to the UN Human Rights Council that opposition party BNP’s demand for holding the next national election under a caretaker government is “completely unconstitutional and illegal.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mentioning Bangladesh’s independent Election Commission, he said the government is committed to hold the next national election in a “free, fair and peaceful” manner with the participation of people. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>