"The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair, and we regret that not all parties participated," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement issued on Monday (8 January).

Washington has been concerned by "the arrests of thousands of political opposition members and by reports of irregularities on election day," the statement added. 

Matthew Miller said the US condemns the violence that took place during elections and in the months leading up to it.

"We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to credibly investigate reports of violence and to hold perpetrators accountable.  We also urge all political parties to reject violence," the statement read. 

"The United States supports the people of Bangladesh and their aspirations for democracy, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression.  The United States notes the Awami League (AL) party won a majority of seats in the 7 January 2024 parliamentary elections," the statement also reads. 

"Looking ahead, the United States remains committed to partnering with Bangladesh to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, to supporting human rights and civil society in Bangladesh, and to deepening our people-to-people and economic ties," it said.

In June last year, six US congresspersons wrote to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on the Biden administration to facilitate free and fair elections in Bangladesh. 

In the letter, they also expressed their concerns alleging that the human rights situation in Bangladesh is deteriorating.

"We write to express our concern about the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in Bangladesh as elections approach in January 2024," said the letter co-signed by Members of Congress William R Keating, James P McGovern, Barbara Lee, Jim Costa, Dina Titus and Jamie Raskin.

Since October of last year, the US government has said they are "closely monitoring" developments in Bangladesh leading up to the elections.

"It's important for free and fair elections that all stakeholders are able to participate peacefully," US Department of State Spokesperson Mathew Miller, told reporters during a regular briefing in Washington on 23 October.