Moriarty meets local leaders in Cox's Bazar

Cox's Bazar, July 10 (bdnews24.com) – US ambassador James F Moriarty held a meeting with four local political leaders in Cox's Bazar Thursday. Asked about the meeting, Moriarty told bdnews24.com that he met the local leaders to hear their views about the political situation of the country. Former BNP lawmaker Mohammad Shahiduzzaman, who also travelled to the seaside town to attend the meeting, said there was discussion on the political situation of the country, local and national polls and the Rohingya issue in the half-hour meeting. Shahiduzzaman said the US ambassador asked them if a free and fair election was possible under the present situation of the country. On the Rohingya issue, Shahiduzzaman said he told the US ambassador that the Rohingyas were carrying out various militant activities in the country. AL Cox's Bazar district president Mohammad Ali, general secretary Salahuddin Ahmad and Jamaat-e-Islami nayebe ameer Salamat Ullah were present at the meeting at the Seagull Hotel. Salahuddin expressed fear at the meeting that local leaders might be harassed ahead of polls. The AL leader claimed that Moriarty told the meeting that the US would request the caretaker government to relax emergency rules in the interests of a peaceful election.