The AL chief told Butenis that the alliance has shown maximum tolerance and given the president-cum-chief adviser "enough" time to prove his neutrality but he has failed.

In a meeting at Sudha Sadan in the capital, Butenis talked to the AL chief about the country's current political situation, AL's demands and ultimatum to the caretaker government, and reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC).

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the US envoy said, "The advisers are trying to move the country towards a free and fair election in which everyone could participate without violence, and involvement of candidates of people's choice.

"I am calling all the parties to give the caretaker government support, not pressure. I think the advisers seem very decent people of their integrity and have interests for the country. I think every Bangladeshi should support them," she added.

Butenis told journalists that she informed Hasina of the US position on the current situation in Bangladesh and that the US appreciated the AL and its allies as they restrained from street violence.

"I have urged Sheikh Hasina to continue exercising their tolerance as difficult as it may be. I think it is crucial to the success of election here, not the violence," Butenis said.

Briefing the journalists from AL side, its Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said the discussion between the AL chief and US envoy focused especially on the current political situation of the country.

He said Butenis wanted to know if the AL will extend the time for carrying out its 11-point demand. She also wanted to know about the reconstitution of the EC.

"We have told the US envoy that we have given the caretaker chief enough time to prove his neutrality, but we have not yet seen any such activity on his part that we can consider him a neutral person," Zafarullah said.

"We have categorically told the US ambassador that a free and fair election is not possible under the jurisdiction of the current EC led by Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz," he said.