Afreen Akhter's message: Free, fair polls, no forced Rohingya repatriation

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Central Asia Afreen Akhter gave two clear messages -- Bangladesh should hold a free, fair, and peaceful election and there should not be any forcible Rohingya repatriation -- before leaving Dhaka on Tuesday night.

Her visit would possibly be the last top-level US official's visit to Bangladesh before the national election which the international community will be watching closely as the last two polls were allegedly mired by irregularities.

During her two-day visit from October 16-17, Akhter met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Ministry Director General (North America) Khandker Masudul Alam, civil society members, and embassy officials. She also visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.

"The US will seriously observe the election this time. That's what Afreen Akhter shared. It is not only the US, but the international community as a whole will do so. We can understand that based on their statements so far," a diplomatic source told The Daily Star yesterday.

The US imposed sanctions on Rab and seven of its current and former officials in 2021 and in May this year announced a visa policy, which is being implemented now, restricting visas to those involved in vote rigging or intimidation.

Since 2021, a series of top US officials visited Bangladesh and its officials also met a number of US officials in the US.

Top US officials said they want to advance the relations with Bangladesh that is already robust now, but they are putting utmost importance on free and fair elections.

Talking to journalists in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday, Akhter said, "We believe that it is incredibly important that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner in support of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stated commitment to this goal."

It is not just about the election on the day itself, but allowing space for civil society, media, and all stakeholders to engage freely in the democratic process in the months before the elections, she said.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Monday, after his meeting with Akhter, told media that she endorsed the US joint pre-election assessment mission's recommendations, including substantive dialogue among the political parties for a credible and inclusive election.

Dialogue among the political parties is the most-discussed issue now as the ruling Awami League says the elections will be held under the current administration, while the BNP is demanding the resignation of the prime minister and forming an interim administration.

Washington has said it has no suggestion to this end.

In a message to journalists yesterday, Bryan Schiller, spokesperson for the US embassy, said, "As the State Department spokesperson, Ambassador Peter Haas, and others have said many times, we do not take sides or prefer one political party over others in Bangladesh.

"We want the people of Bangladesh to be able to choose their own leaders."

In Cox's Bazar and Dhaka, Afreen Akhter told Bangladesh officials that the conditions in Myanmar were not ripe at this moment for the safe and voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas.

Officials said Dhaka will not do anything that puts the Rohingya under security threat in Myanmar, but would use all means for the early, safe, and voluntary repatriation.