Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday reiterated that her government is committed to upholding democracy.

“We fought for democracy and attained it. We are committed to upholding democracy,” she said.  

The premier said this when a 12-member delegation of International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission (PEAM) from the US paid a courtesy call on her at the PM's official residence Ganabhaban in the capital.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina said the ideology of her party Bangladesh Awami League is to uphold democracy and Awami League has been fighting for it.  

She briefly apprised them of the history of Bangladesh’s democracy.  Following the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, the military rulers captured power with the use of arms and formed political parties in Bangladesh, she said.

Members of the delegation of International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission (PEAM) from the US pays a courtesy call on her at the PM`s official residence Ganabhaban in the capital on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Photo: PID

PM Hasina said she was obstructed from returning home from the USA during the 2007-2008 military-back caretaker government. She was threatened to be killed if she would return to the country. But she returned home defying the death threat, she added.

She said her government’s main goal is to ensure basic rights of the people – food, cloth, shelter, health and education—as dreamt by  Bangabandhu.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has brought down the extreme poverty rate to 5.6%.

Leading the delegation during the meeting, former Deputy USAID Administrator Bonnie Glick said Bangladesh has attained amazing economic development under the leadership of PM Hasina.

She said they had talks with all stakeholders including diplomats and their mission is to listen to all.

Glick said they don’t represent the US government, rather they have come here in their private capacity. They want a peaceful transition of power, she added.

Former Assistant Secretary of US State for South Asian Affairs Karl F Inderfurth said democracy has some inherent problems. The problems exist even in the USA.

They thanked the prime minister for giving them time despite her busy schedule.

Prime minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman MP, Mohammad Ali Arafat, MP, Foreign Secretary  Masud Bin Momen, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Awami League Information and Research Secretary  Salim Mahmud were present.

NDI and IRI are nonpartisan, nongovernmental organizations that support and strengthen democratic institutions and practices worldwide. 

The Institutes have collectively observed more than 200 elections in more than 50 countries over the last 30 years.