Question: Comment on the political situation in Bangladesh with impending elections. What are the next steps to ensuring dialogue and nonviolence around the elections?

Answer: We have repeatedly urged the leaders of the major parties in Bangladesh to come together and agree on a way forward that will ensure free, fair, and credible elections in the coming months. What the way forward looks like is for the parties of Bangladesh to decide; however, nonviolence is essential to any solution.

Secretary Kerry has written to the Prime Minister and to Begum Zia, encouraging them to engage in constructive dialogue on a way forward.