The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

American envoy James Moriarty spells out three priorities for the would-be winner of Bangladesh elections to focus on restoring full democracy, development, and denying opportunities for terrorism to flourish.

"Any successful government in Bangladesh has to address all three." Otherwise, he says in advance, "Bangladesh will face even greater challenges than it does at present".

The US Ambassador in an interview with VOA said, "If the democracy does not function well, you will see ungoverned space, you will see much slower economic development than you would otherwise. If development doesn't occur, you will have a lot more poor people, you will have a lot more opportunities for bad guys to do bad things."

Moriarty has appeared recently twice with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina. But he says he is not playing favorites and hopes to meet again with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia before election day.

"We have no preferred candidate," he said. "I've reached out to both of the former prime ministers. I've assured them that the United States has important interests in Bangladesh, wants to see a return to democracy and will work well with whatever government comes to power."

The general election in Bangladesh is now set for December 29 after its postponement in January last year following a political crisis over the poll issues and change of guards in state power with military backing.

The Ambassador said he is convinced "Bangladesh's military wants to get out of politics and has kept to its own timetable for the transition back to an elected civilian government"