<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said they are not under any external pressure; rather they are under their own pressure as his party is committed to holding the national election in a “free and fair” manner.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We want to hold a free and fair election. We want to hold an acceptable election. This is our pressure. But we want to do it,” he told the reporters while responding to a question after attending a programme at North South University as the chief guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said the external world is playing a supportive role and they want to see a free and fair election, in addition to making it a non-violent one.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are committed to a free and fair election. We believe in people. We want people’s verdict. We want people to go to polling centers to cast their votes in big numbers. These are our challenges,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, Momen said he thinks the US does not like what opposition BNP is doing. “My hunch is that the US is hugely dissatisfied with the BNP. The US does not like arson attacks and terrorist activities.”</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said the US did not see a democratic mindset from the BNP. “The US believes in democracy. We also believe in democracy. We have no mental distance from the US.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, he spoke at the seminar titled “Efficiently Preparing the Youth Workforce of Our Country and Facilitating Their Entry into the Global Placements.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister a couple days ago said they are looking forward to building a better and stronger relationship with the US.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the cordial nature of the US-Bangladesh relationship, Momen remarked on the current election wave sweeping the country, underscoring the importance of participatory elections, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that Bangladesh values the suggestions from friendly countries like the US and accepts those that are beneficial for the nation.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>