| The United States is strongly condemning the bomb | | | | Department spokesman Steven Pike called the |
| attack on an opposition rally in Bangladesh Thursday | | | | incident an assault on the principles of free speech, |
| that killed five people including a former cabinet | | | | democracy and peaceful political opposition and said |
| member. The State Department urged quick action by | | | | the Dhaka government needs to resolve the case |
| the Dhaka government to resolve the case and | | | | quickly: |
| prevent a climate of impunity from taking hold in the | | | | "The failure to bring to justice the perpetrators of acts |
| South Asian country. | | | | of political violence fosters an intimidating climate of |
| The State Department is calling for speedy action by | | | | insecurity and impunity that encourages further |
| Bangladesh authorities in bringing to justice those | | | | attacks," he said. "The Bangladeshi government needs |
| behind Thursday's attack, and it is urging all political | | | | to act quickly to identify, arrest and prosecute those |
| factions there in the meantime to exercise maximum | | | | responsible for political terrorism." |
| restraint. | | | | The Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, who |
| The comments follow a grenade attack on an | | | | survived a grenade attack at a Dhaka rally in August |
| opposition Awami League rally in northeastern | | | | that killed more than 20 people, has charged that the |
| Bangladesh Thursday that killed five people including | | | | latest incident is part of a conspiracy by the |
| former Finance Minister Shah A.M.S. Kibria. | | | | government to eliminate its opponents. |
| The veteran politician and diplomat, who had just | | | | A government spokesman in Dhaka denied what he |
| finished a speech when the attack occurred, died of | | | | termed the unfortunate allegation by Sheikh Hasina, |
| multiple wounds several hours after the incident. | | | | and said authorities will thoroughly investigate the |
| It touched off violent protests by Awami League | | | | attack. |
| supporters near the site of the attack, and in Dhaka. | | | | Spokesman Pike said the United States reiterates its |
| The State Department strongly condemned the | | | | steadfast support for Bangladesh's democracy. |
| incident, which it said was the latest in a disturbing | | | | He said all Bangladeshis should exercise maximum |
| series of attacks on leaders of the Bangladeshi | | | | restraint, even under what he termed these difficult |
| opposition and civil society, and the second fatal attack | | | | circumstances, to pursue their political objectives and |
| on an Awami League rally in six months. | | | | search for justice peacefully. |