US visa policy for media: 205 citizens voice concern over ‘misinterpretation’ of Peter Haas statement

News Desk :
More than 200 eminent citizens of the country have expressed their deep concern, stating that a certain group continues to create confusion about US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter de Haas’ statement regarding the application of US visa policy on media.

“We believe that their misleading statements about the US ambassador’s statement are an attempt to protect the authoritarian system, and this act is an obstacle to free, fair, and participatory elections,” they said in a press statement issued on Thursday.

Earlier in an interview aired on 24 September on a private TV channel, Haas said, “We are applying the policy in a balanced way against anyone regardless of whether they are pro-government, whether they are in the opposition, or whether they are law enforcement, whether they are in the judiciary, whether it’s the media.”

The signatories said, “Due to the one-sided attitude of the government, after two fraudulent elections, there is no prospect of holding a free and fair election even as the date of yet another election approaches.”

While describing the US move as undesirable and embarrassing for the country, they said, “US sanctions on law enforcement officials have reduced extrajudicial killings.

After the application of the visa policy, the ground of meetings and expressions has expanded dramatically.

“We can see that the policies and actions of the democratic world are playing an effective role in mitigating the repressive policies of this government supported by various regional and international superpowers.

It also played a role in improving the situation of human rights and freedom of expression.”

The signatories emphasised that the support of democratic people, countries, and organisations worldwide can play an essential and effective role in the ongoing movement of the people of Bangladesh for free, fair, participatory, and peaceful elections.

They lamented that an environment of equal opportunity in the media, crucial for free, fair, and participatory elections, is lacking.

“Regrettably, media freedom has been severely curtailed by the government’s restrictive policies.”

“The group that misinterprets the US visa policy on the media and propagates it as an obstacle to media freedom remained silent, even in the face of the country’s media outlets’ crisis.

This silence is likely because many of these individuals benefit from government affiliations and are partners in authoritarian systems.