The United States has asked the interim government in Bangladesh to lift the ban on politics, saying arbitrary application of the ban has been a concern both domestically and internationally.
"Dialogue is part and parcel of an effective reform process. As such, lifting the ban on politics is absolutely critical as a kick-start to positive change in Bangladesh," US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi told a meeting of a business chamber on Tuesday.
Pasi, however, said lifting the ban did not mean "ushering back the culture of violent partisan street politics," a reference to Bangladesh's volatile politics featured by obstinate stance by two major parties over the abortive January polls.
"Rather, it would signal that there is a room for a new, constructive political discourse, and help guarantee that this new breeze of reform can permeate the political parties," she said.
Her comments came a week after US President George W Bush appreciated Bangladesh's election roadmap.
The US envoy re-affirmed support for the anti-graft campaign but added "to make a real break with the past and to earn the Bangladesh people's confidence, the government needed to ensure corruption cases were prosecuted fairly, transparently and without "selectivity or political motivation".
{{/usCountry}}The US envoy re-affirmed support for the anti-graft campaign but added "to make a real break with the past and to earn the Bangladesh people's confidence, the government needed to ensure corruption cases were prosecuted fairly, transparently and without "selectivity or political motivation".
{{/usCountry}}"This is a time of great opportunity in Bangladesh's history" the political, social and economic investments you make today are the venture capital of a new future for Bangladesh that must include a clear and unwavering focus on democratic values," she told the people present in the meeting.