<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has reaffirmed the importance of upholding human rights and holding "free, fair, and peaceful" national elections in Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The statement by Sherman came as she met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and discussed issues of mutual interest in the US on Friday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Deputy Secretary expressed condolences for the three Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers, who were killed on October 4 in the Central African Republic, said US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sherman also underscored the US commitment to the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s "illegal war of aggression", according to a message received from the US State Department.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sherman and Alam discussed the US-Bangladesh partnership as two countries commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">bnbd24/kh</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div>