US concerned at political harassment, restriction on rallies in Bangladesh

The US Department of State expressed concern at the reports of police harassment, arrests of opposition party members, and restrictions on the ability to hold rallies in Bangladesh.

The department’s spokesperson Ned Price at a press briefing in Washington DC on Tuesday said, “We’re concerned about reports of intimidation and political violence in Bangladesh. We call on the government to respect and to protect the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.”

Responding to a question, Price said, “We’re also concerned about reports of police harassment, arrests of opposition party members, and restrictions on the ability of the opposition parties to meet and to hold peaceful rallies. We call on all parties in Bangladesh to respect the rule of law and to refrain from violence, from harassment, from intimidation as well.”

He said the US calls on the government of Bangladesh to ensure that no party or candidate threatens, incites, or conducts violence against another party or candidate.

“Genuine elections require the ability of all candidates to engage voters free from violence, harassment, intimidation; and we encourage the government authorities to investigate these reports of violence thoroughly, transparently, and impartially, and to hold the perpetrators to account,” he added.

Ned Price said the US also made its concerns about the Digital Security Act. “Freedom of expression should never be criminalised. It should never be a source or a subject of duress or intimidation,” he said.