Bangladesh
Awami League Awami League responds to Donald Lu's letter
Dhaka, Nov 18: Awami League has responded to the letter of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu.
Mohammad A. Arafat, a member of the central executive committee of the party, took the reply to the letter on behalf of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader at the US High Commission in Bangladesh on Friday evening.
In this regard, Arafat said, "On November 13, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu handed over a letter to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader. Later, Obaidul Quader told reporters that the letter will be answered in due course."
He said, in response to Donald Lu's letter, I am the acting deputy chief of mission on behalf of the general secretary of Awami League. Delivered letter to Arturo Hines.
Obaidul Quader said in the letter, "On behalf of Bangladesh Awami League, I thank you (Donald Lu), Ambassador Peter Haas and the US State Department for your letter dated November 12. Appreciating the help and cooperation of international friends to make the upcoming National Assembly elections of Bangladesh free, fair and violence free. I would like to reiterate our party's commitment to free and fair elections to maintain the country's democratic process. Awami League considers the right of people to vote as a sacred right. Awami League has a long and distinguished history of relentless struggle and sacrifice to protect that right."
The letter also said that our visionary Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken structural, financial and legal initiatives to make the Election Commission an independent institution recognized by the Constitution. Notable among them are legislation for photo voter ID cards, transparent ballot boxes and appointment of election commissioners.
In the meantime, the Election Commission of Bangladesh has announced the schedule of the 12th National Parliament elections. The polling date has been fixed on January 7, 2024. The last date for submission of nomination papers is fixed on 30 November.
Awami League had kept the door open for unconditional dialogue with other political parties for months. The dialogue was not possible as the BNP was adamant on the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government as a precondition for such a national dialogue.
