The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The US will send observers to monitor the ongoing trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.

Disclosing this yesterday, US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi said they have already sought permission from the (Bangladesh) authorities to send observers to the trial of the Awami League (AL) President.

"Washington is closely monitoring the (trial of) corruption cases against the two Prime Ministers (Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina)," Geeta Pasi told journalists last evening following her separate meetings with AL Acting President Zillur Rahman and BNP Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman.

The US envoy said she also intends to meet with other political leaders, including the BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar, over the next few weeks.

Stressing the need to follow due process in trial of the two former Prime Ministers, Ms Geeta Pasi said her country was also monitoring the trials of all those accused of corruption.

During her meetings with the AL and a faction of the BNP, she discussed a wide range of issues, focusing on the current political situation in Bangladesh and the status of implementation of the electoral roadmap, a US Embassy release said last evening.

"She noted the importance of dialogue between the political parties and the government in order to establish the proper conditions for holding elections," the release said.

"Ms Pasi reiterated the US government's desire to see free, fair and fully participatory elections by the end of 2008 as promised by the Caretaker government," the US Embassy added, saying, "She underscored the important role the political parties will play in this process."

The release said senior leaders of both the parties-AL and BNP-were present during the US envoy's separate meetings with Zillur Rahman and M Saifur Rahman.