Dhaka: The United States ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat said ‘winning at any cost is no victory at all’ expressing her disappointment as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the city corporation election on Tuesday afternoon.

The US envoy made the remark in her Tweeter account. She also tweeted, ‘Disappointed that BNP is pulling out of all three #CityPolls in #Bangladesh’.

In another tweet Bernicat said, ‘Disappointing to hear so many first-hand reports of intimidation and violence and their effect on today’s ‪#‎CityPolls in ‪#‎Bangladesh.’

Earlier, Barnicat expressed her concern over the polling station capturing and forcing out the BNP polling agents during the city corporation election.

The US ambassador after observing the polling station at Banani Bidyanikaton School and College at about 11:30am on Tuesday told the journalist, ‘The election commission should inspect allegation brought by BNP that the party’s agents are not present in several polling booths.’

She also said that the commission should take action for the entrance of BNP polling agents in those stations.

BNP claimed that their polling agents were forcing out from 500 voting centres of Dhaka South and North City Corporation.

BNP candidates also accused police for forcing out their polling agents from the centres. BNP declared to boycott the city election at Dhaka North, South and Chittagong City Corporations.

Bernicat on also said every citizen who came out today to cast their vote should be able to do that.

‘In order for elections to be meaningful, every citizen who came out today to cast their votes should be able to do that,’ said the US diplomat.

She said they and other foreign friends of Bangladesh are looking forward to the results of these elections and wished everyone good luck.

Asked about the allegations of driving out agents, Bernicat said this will be for the Election Commission to look into. ‘The government promised free and fair election. That’s what people are expecting.’

She mentioned that they condemned the pre-election violence.

Earlier on Monday she tweeted, ‘Fair, free and credible elections are the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Hope, tomorrow’s elections are an example of that spirit.’