SAP ReportThe United States has welcome Bangladesh’s announcement of national elections scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026. Addressing questions at a press briefing , U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized the importance of free, fair, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh.
“We welcome steps that have been taken by this interim government of Bangladesh to prepare for elections that ultimately will allow the Bangladeshi people to choose their own government representatives.,” Patel said. He underscored that the U.S. will continue to monitor developments, encouraging respect for the rule of law and democratic principles throughout the process.
“And as we would throughout the world, our – we would advocate for free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner”, he added.
On a separate question by South Asia Perspectives, Vedant Patel responded to findings from a Bangladeshi inquiry commission investigating enforced disappearances. The commission’s report, published by The New York Times, reveals that former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina and some senior officials were involved in orchestrating the disappearances.
“We have been deeply troubled by reports that hundreds of Bangladeshis were forcibly disappeared over the past two decades,” Patel stated, describing enforced disappearance as “an egregious human rights violation” that traumatizes both victims and their families. Patel commended the interim government’s investigative efforts and called for “fair and transparent processes to provide justice for victims and their families.”
The U.S. has previously imposed sanctions on individuals connected to gross human rights violations in Bangladesh. The State Department’s statements signal continued international scrutiny of the nation’s political and human rights landscape.
