Reiterating their unwavering support for the freedom of peaceful assembly, the United States has called for a peaceful resolution to the current situation in Bangladesh.

‘So as it relates to Bangladesh, both in public and private we continue to call for a lasting and peaceful resolution to the current situation, and we reiterate our unwavering support for the freedom of peaceful assembly,’ US Department of State principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a routine press briefing on Monday at his office in Washington.

He, however, said that they were aware of some restoration of telecommunications across Bangladesh, but were calling for full and undisrupted public access to internet and social media services.

‘This will enable people in Bangladesh – including our very own American citizens – to be able to access critical information,’ he added.

The deputy spokesperson was asked how he viewed the role of Bangladeshi law enforcers’ agencies in running a ‘witch hunt against innocent young people, shooting them, and the shoot-on-sight orders by the ruling prime minister Hasina, and forcing key student organisers to give statements after being tortured while in custody, which are then circulated by the controlled media, especially when this shows visible torture marks’.

About numerous members of the House of Representatives and senators expressing concern in solidarity with the student protests in Bangladesh, Patel said, ‘So we – we of course support all efforts for those who want to peacefully protest.’

‘And as it relates to engagement with Congress, I’m not going to speak to specific correspondence, but we of course continue to be deeply responsive to any questions our colleagues in the Congress may have,’ he added.