<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Foreign Minister&nbsp; AK Abdul Momen has said there is no need to hold political dialogue with the opposition BNP before the next general election and suggested that they follow the system that is in place in the election process.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Why do you need a dialogue? Is it to come (to power) through the backdoor? No way. There is no need for discussion as there is a system and they (opposition parties including BNP) should come forward who are willing to take part in the election,” he told Voice of America Bangla service in an exclusive interview during his recent visit to the US.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Momen made a counter question to VoA journalists – “Do the Democratic Party and the Republican Party or other parties discuss before the election? No, never. Because, there is a system. They do follow the system.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The foreign minister said, “Those whom you are referring to began their journey through guns. They believe in guns not in ballots.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Momen said his party – Bangladesh Awami League – has trust in the people and that is why they want a “free, fair, transparent and credible election.” “Because we believe in people. We want a model election.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;The foreign minister said Bangladesh is the country where 30 lakh people sacrificed their lives to uphold justice, democracy, human dignity and human rights. “In each of our blood, democracy is there with the right to vote.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The United States has reiterated its desire to see a free and fair election in Bangladesh, noting that the world will be observing Bangladesh’s next national election.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read more: Want security in the region but no defence pact: Momen on Indo-Pacific Strategy</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next election, to make sure that they set a strong example of free and fair election for the region and for the world,” US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said during his meeting with Momen on April 10..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I agree with Secretary Blinken. I am so happy that he also wants a model election which can be portrayed in the rest of the world. I want, too and we seek support from all,” Momen told VoA Bangla service</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To have a fair election, Momen said all parties should demonstrate sincerity and political commitment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said his party – AL – always came to power through election and never through coup or bullet. “Others are not even close to us in terms of the level of sincerity and commitment we have for democracy.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Momen said the BNP should participate in the election if they believe in democracy. He mentioned that the BNP boycotted elections in the past and carried out destructive activities to halt elections. “We don’t want to see that situation again.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Momen said he requested Secretary Blinken to send election observers as many as possible but they should be independent and must not be Bangladesh origin to avoid partisan observers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We have nothing to hide. Because we have done an excellent job over the last 14 years and we are convinced that people will vote for us in spite of stories being cooked up and people will not believe those stories,” he said. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>