Online Desk: Visiting two US Congressmen Ed Case and Richard McCormick held seperate meetings with the leaders of ruling Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party in Dhaka on Sunday (August 13). The meeting was held at US Ambassador Peter Haas’ Gulshan residence from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. It is learnt that Awami League delegation included the party’s Finance and Planning secretary Washiqa Ayesha Khan MP, Nahim Razzaque MP and Tamanna Nusrat Bubly.

The BNP delegation included Publicity and Publication Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny and Harunur Rashid MP. The Jatiya Party delegation included JP chairman’s adviser and Jatiya Sangskritik Party president Sherifa Quader MP, Major (Retd) Rana Mohammad Sohel MP and Nazma Akter MP.

The meeting sources said BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny mentioned that the upcoming elections under the Sheikh Hasina-led present Awami League government would not be free, fair and impartial in any way. At the same time, he said their party will not take part in the election without a caretaker government in power. Besides, Anny alleged that an authoritarian rule is now going on in Bangladesh. One individual’s rule is taking place in the country.

At the meeting, the Awami League leaders said it is not possible to hold the upcoming elections under any government which goes against the constitutional provision. Following the meeting, Sherifa Quader said the US Congressmen wanted to know about the overall election situation. They are also monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely. “We have placed our concerns to them and also told them that Jatiya Party will take part in the elections.”

Besides, the two US Congressmen held a meeting with the representatives of civil society and mass media at the US Ambassador Peter Haas’ Gulshan residence on Sunday evening.

The meeting was attended by Sujon secretary Dr Badiul Alam Mazumder, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Odhikar secretary Adilur Rahman Khan, BELA’s chief executive Dr Syeda Rizwana Hasan, BIPSS president Maj Gen (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, Centre for Workers Solidarity founder, executive director and labour leader Kalpana Akter, Centre for Governance Studies’ executive director Zillur Rahman, photographer Shahidul Alam, and Article Nineteen’s regional director (South Asia) Faruque Faisal were present at the meeting.