US imposes visa restriction on Bangladeshis
Diplomatic Correspondent :
In a significant diplomatic move, the United States Department of State on Friday has imposed visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals believed to be responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.
The visa restriction includes members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition.
The announcement came at a time when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly. It, however, did not mention any individual names.
“Today, the Department of State is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.
These individuals include members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition.
The United States is committed to supporting free and fair elections in Bangladesh that are carried out in a peaceful manner,” Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson, said in a press release.
The announcement is the US government’s unwavering commitment to promoting free and fair elections in Bangladesh, with a strong emphasis on maintaining peace throughout the electoral process.
About the impact of the visa restriction, Miller said that the visa restrictions will not only apply to the individuals themselves but also extend to their immediate family members.
“These persons and members of their immediate family may be found ineligible for entry into the United States,” he said.
The policy, which is aimed at encouraging democratic stability in Bangladesh, is not limited to current officials but also includes former Bangladeshi officials, members of opposition and ruling political parties, as well as members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services who are found to be responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic election process.
“This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of opposition and ruling political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services,” he said.
In its announcement, the US Department of State reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s aspiration of conducting free and fair national elections in a peaceful manner.
“Our actions today reflect the continued commitment of the United States to supporting Bangladesh’s goal of peacefully holding free and fair national elections, and to support those seeking to advance democracy globally,” he said.
Earlier on May 24, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced a new visa policy for Bangladeshis to promote democratic election.
In the announcement, Blinken said, “I am announcing a new visa policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) (“3C”) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections.”
“Under this policy, the United States will be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh,” he said.
Mentioning the broad spectrum of the visa restriction, he said, “This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services.”
Even Blinken mentioned that the United States notified the Bangladeshi government of this decision on May 3, 2023.
At the time of the initial U.S. announcement, Bangladesh’s political environment was characterised by turmoil, with the opposition, particularly the BNP, struggling to find opportunities to conduct their events due to frequent clashes with law enforcement and members of the ruling party.
But Blinken’s announcement brought changes in the political landscape and the opposition BNP was getting space to hold programmes, though not fully peaceful due to attacks from the ruling party.
Nearly four months later, the US government on Friday announced fresh announced of visa restriction, giving a clear message of United States’ continued dedication to the promotion of democratic principles worldwide, emphasising the importance of a fair electoral process and the right of citizens to choose their leaders without interference.
Before this announcement, the Election Commission on Thursday said that the European Union would not send full-fledged foreign observers to oversee the general elections in early next year.
The Commission stated that the observers would not attend due to ‘fund crisis’.
Just after it, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told the journalists that the absence of the EU observers would not affect the neutrality and transparency of the election.
Following it, BNP said that the EU is not sending their team because they did not find conducive environment for holding elections.
The BNP said that election under the incumbent government is not possible and they are demanding for a neutral caretaker government and the dissolution of the parliament.
With this demand, BNP has been continuing their movement for restoring democracy and trying to whip up the entire population to stand against the misrule and mismanagement of the government.
However, Awami League government is harping on fair election under the prevailing constitutional provisions. But the US government is always seeking free and fair election.
