By Xinhua,

Dhaka : The United States Friday insisted that Bangladesh lift the state of emergency to hold a fair and transparent election.

"A transparent election is not possible under the emergency. Therefore, emergency has to be lifted. It needs open political activities, meetings, rallies and debates to have a good election,” Richard Boucher, assistant secretary of state, told reporters here.

“We have been pushing to lift the emergency to have credible elections," Boucher, who arrived here Thursday on a two-day visit, said.

The US would not accept any deviation from the elections set for next Dec, he said.

Boucher said the US goal in Bangladesh is to support democracy and the democratic election to ensure overall stability in the country, which is in the interests of the US and the Bangladeshi people.

On the issue of terrorism, Boucher said Bangladesh has done well last year in its fight against terrorism and such efforts need to continue to have stability and economic progress.

He assured US support to Bangladesh to enhance counter-terrorism measures.