US continues to encourage free, fair polls: Envoy

US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl R Miller has said his country encourages all to participate in the democratic and electoral process in Bangladesh avoiding violence as the national election is scheduled to be held on December 30.

"The United States continues to encourage a free, fair, credible, participatory, tolerant and peaceful national election," he told reporters after a meeting with a BNP delegation at its Chairperson's Gulshan office on Tuesday, reports UNB.

The meeting began at 12:50 pm and ended at 1:10pm.

"We are concerned about the reports of violence, as I have said before....We all must eschew, avoid violence; and we all must condemn violence. That's the conversation we just had," Ambassador Miller said making his brief statement.

He said the system simply cannot work if everyone does not have access to the field and to the polls. "I encourage everyone to go out and campaign freely and fully; and participate in the December 30 election.

"We must eschew violence of any forms," he added.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior leaders Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ameer Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Abdul Awal Mintoo were present.

The US Ambassador made the similar call after his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saying his country encourages everyone, no matter the political party or sentiment, to act peacefully and responsibly; eschew and condemn violence.

He also said the United States will support election observers across Bangladesh, according to a message the US Embassy shared on its verified Facebook page on Tuesday morning.

Ambassador Miller met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gonobhaban on Monday.

They discussed the need for free, fair, credible and peaceful elections that reflect the will of the Bangladeshi people.

Ambassador Miller and the Prime Minister discussed the strong enduring ties between the United States and Bangladesh and challenges they can work together to address in partnership.

The BNP leaders who joined the meeting said they also discussed various issues, including jailing of Khaleda Zia, cancellation of her candidature, 'continued' arrest of opposition leaders and activists, filing of cases against them and attacks on BNP candidates and their supporters at different parts of the country.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Fakhrul said they discussed the country's overall election atmosphere.

He said the US envoy told them that their country wants to see a fair, inclusive and acceptable election free from intimidation and violence.

Fakhrul said the US also expects that the election will be held in a peaceful manner where voters will not be obstructed from going to polling station and candidates will be able to carry out campaigns freely.