The US State Department said respecting and protecting the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of all Bangladeshis is necessary to ensure the country’s true democratic future.

The United States supports freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association for all, including dissenting and oppositional voices, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said Tuesday during a press briefing.

“These freedoms, in our view, are essential elements of any democracy,” he said in Washington DC.

He made the comments when asked about his views on a recent incident on November 10 in which Awami League activists were not allowed to hold a rally in Dhaka. He was also asked what message the United States had for the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Asked about the recent cancellation of press accreditation cards, including that of the AP’s Bangladesh bureau chief, Patel said he had not seen any information about it, adding that it would be regrettable let this be true.

“We firmly believe that a free and engaged press is essential to covering any situation, including, of course, the situation in Bangladesh.

“Freedom of the press and media freedom are important to the president, important to the secretary of state, and we encourage and want to ensure that the rights and freedoms of all journalists are appropriately respected.”