The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The US Embassy and British High Commission in Dhaka yesterday expressed the hope that the upcoming general elections would be held with the participation of all parties as the Election Commission extended the deadline for nomination filing. A US Embassy spokesman told BSS that Washington consistently stated that it looked forward to free, fair and credible elections as soon as possible.

"We hope that the major political parties and the caretaker government can agree on a compromise to ensure free, fair and credible polls. Compromise is an integral part of a healthy democracy," he said. A British High Commission spokeswoman in Dhaka said her country noted with appreciation the extended timeframe for filing nomination papers by candidates.

"We believe that the people of Bangladesh want a free and fair election with the fullest possible participation. We therefore urge all parties to take part in the election and meet the expectations of the people," she said.