US urges free, fair polls in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Aug 3 (Reuters) A senior US official, Richard A Boucher, urged Bangladesh political parties today to reach a consensus to hold a free and credible election next year.

''Parties in Bangladesh should work for free, fair, peaceful and credible elections,'' Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs, told a news conference.

He arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday on a three-day visit to discuss a range of issues with Bangladeshi officials including politics and terrorism.

Boucher said the parties should end the stalemate over the opposition's demand for electoral reforms ahead of parliamentary election due in January 2007.

''They should reach a consensus to hold the election peacefully.'' A 14-party opposition alliance led by the Awami League of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has demanded the removal of the chief election commissioner and his deputies, who they accuse of pro-government bias.

The opposition also wants a say in choosing the chief of a caretaker administration that would take over after Prime MInister Begum Khaleda Zia ends her five-year term in power in October, and supervise new elections in three months.

The opposition has threatened to boycott the election unless the reforms were carried out. Analysts say that could plunge the country into a political crisis and likely widespread violence.

Boucher also lauded Dhaka's recent successes against Islamist militants.

''Bangladesh has made an important stride by capturing leaders of JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen), which we recognise,'' he said.

The outlawed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh were blamed for a string of bomb attacks across the country late last year.

At least 30 people including judges, lawyers, police and journalists were killed and some 150 others were injured in the bomb attacks.

REUTERS DKB KN2017