In one of her last public appearances, she also said her biggest regret during her 14-month stay as the US envoy was the failure to hold the January 22 elections, as she feels the political leadership was 'ready to let a disaster unfold.'

"...I am disappointed that I am leaving Bangladesh with the ban still in place on all political party activity, a ban which does not seem to apply to some behind-the-scenes activity promoting the concept of a new party," Butenis said while addressing the American Alumni Association at Gulshan Club yesterday evening.

Although noting 'interesting' reform drives to improve the political and electoral process, she said, "I believe the engagement and ideally the support of the established parties are essential because, at the end of the day, it is hard to build a viable political process without them."

Butenis also stressed US support for government reforms towards holding credible elections at the earliest as she felt it is 'very clear' that 'very few Bangladeshis want to revert to politics as they were practiced before January 11.'

"However, it is also clear that a government that is seen to deny the people their fundamental and sovereign right to pick their leaders and determine their future does so at the risk of its legitimacy and legacy," she asserted.

Clarifying US involvement in events leading up to the January 11 change in administration, Butenis said, "My biggest regret is that I did not witness the free, fair and credible elections we had hoped to see on January 22."

"Some people have suggested that the United States engineered or condoned the declaration of a State of Emergency," she noted and added, "Like many other things fancifully attributed to the US government, the reality here is quite different."

Butenis said though the US got relieved that a 'disastrous, one-sided and violent' election was averted adding that it was not what they wanted as she continued to urge the Iajuddin-led government and political leaders 'until the very last moment' to reach a compromise.

"Unfortunately, there was very little flexibility in each side and I was very discouraged to see that the country's political leadership was perfectly ready to let a disaster unfold," she lamented.

She viewed that the government can 'come to grips' with human rights problems, which she feels threatens its 'reformist credentials' abroad and the integrity of its political agenda.

"Deaths in custody, mistreatment of the detainees, lack of clarity on who gets arrested and why and so-called 'secret' detentions are all unacceptable," she said mentioning the case of Cholesh Ritchill in particular.

However, she said, "It is encouraging that the government is now taking action to deliver justice in this matter."

Regarding militancy, Butenis congratulated the government for 'coming to grips' with the threat from Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh in 2005, she warned, "Experience of other countries suggests that the battle against extremist violence is never brief but is constant and difficult."

She also found the proposed budget for FY08 contains elements that could significantly boost Bangladesh's global economic competitiveness, but she also wanted to see US-Bangla trade balance in favour of the US as it currently favours Bangladesh 10 to one.

On a personal note, she said, "I know that some Bangladeshis believe that I was sometimes too outspoken," but she said in a fast and complex world of diplomacy, "Ambassadors must be clear about their country's interests and viewpoints to avoid misunderstanding."