US visa restriction draws mixed reactions
Staff Reporter :
The imposition of US visa restrictions on Bangladeshis responsible for undermining democratic elections has triggered a wide range of mixed reactions among government officials, the ruling party and opposition leaders, and other stakeholders, reflecting the complex political landscape ahead of the upcoming national elections.
The first official reaction came from State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, who downplayed the significance of the visa restrictions, stating, “There’s nothing new in the visa restriction. We are not worried about it. We don’t think we did anything wrong.”
He also expressed the confidence that there was no basis to anticipate further sanctions from the U.S. prior to the elections.
PM’s advisor for private industry and investment, Salman F Rahman, welcomed the U.S. visa restrictions.
He pointed out that the main opposition party had expressed intentions to obstruct the election, and the US had responded by stating they would sanction those who interfere with the electoral process.
Speaking at an event in the capital on Saturday, he said, “They had done well in imposing these visa restrictions. The government has said we want a free and fair election. We do not want to obstruct it.”
In contrast, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir criticised the US move, describing it as “insulting and embarrassing” for Bangladesh.
Fakhrul squarely held the government responsible for the situation, explaining, “The government has undermined the electoral system, curtailed freedom of expression, and violated human rights.” “Leaders and activists of the opposition party are being harassed and arrested.
Due to these reasons, various countries, including the United States, are taking various measures,” he pointed out.
Reacting to the visa restriction, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan remarked that the US visa policy is up to them.
Speaking to reporters at an event in Satkhira Police Lines on Saturday, he said, “The decision to grant visas is solely up to the concerned country .
The US government did not issue any statement regarding anyone in particular.”
“They have indicated that the visa policy might be applied to individuals who obstruct fair elections or attempt to manipulate the upcoming polls,” he said.
On the other hand, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni stated that it is the BNP, not the government, is under pressure for the visa restriction.
“The government and the Election Commission want to hold a transparent election.
So the incumbent government is not feeling any pressure due to the visa restriction,” she said while talking to journalists in a teachers’ assembly in Madinatul Uloom Kamil Madrasa in Rajshahi on Saturday.
Columnist Kamal Ahmed in a tweet said : “US visa-sanctions and the EU’s pulling out of poll monitoring means only one thing, that the Western governments have given up hope for a Free, fair and genuine election in Bangladesh. It’s sad and really worrying.”
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Dhaka on its Facebook page on Saturday shared a statement on the visa restriction with the speech of US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu regarding the names of the individuals who have faced visa ban.
“We will not share the names of individuals who have received visa restrictions under this policy.
Visa records, including individual visa denials, are confidential under US law.
After a careful review of the evidence, we have imposed visa restrictions on members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition.
The purpose of this policy is to show that we are a constructive partner for the people of Bangladesh by working to reduce violence and deter actions that undermine a free and fair election,” Lu said.
On Friday, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller announced the 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,” he said.
Meanwhile, the announcement did not make it clear what it meant by ‘political opposition’.
In the parliamentary democracy, the parties who hold the opposition bench are called the opposition.
Currently Jatiya Party (Ershad), Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) and Shamyabadi Dal, among others, are in the opposition bench of parliament.
However, the BNP is not in the House, but it is on the democratic movement demanding free and fair election.
