'Wrong decisions can threaten democracy in B'desh'

Dhaka, Apr 25: Reacting to restrictions on Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh and Khaleda Zia's reported confinement, the United States today said democracy in Bangladesh would be threatened if the current caretaker government did not take the ''right decisions''.

''It is a case if not handled properly and if the caretaker government does not take right decisions, then this, there is a real possibility, can threaten Bangladeshi democracy and nobody wants to see that,'' spokesman for the State Department Sean McCormack said at a weekly press briefing in Washington.

''The US has urged the caretaker government to move as expeditiously as possible to elections so that the Bangladeshis can exercise their right to vote and choose who is going to lead them in the future and hopefully be able to put these past incidents behind them,'' the spokesman added.

Asked if the US government is in touch with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in London, Mr McCormack said, ''I know our embassy has been in close contact with them and several months ago, Nick Burns spoke to them.''

UNI