Assault on democracy, human rights: ‘US should review ties with Bangladesh’
Staff Reporter :
The Washington-based human rights organisation, Right to Freedom (RF), has commented that the Bangladesh government should pay a price for its systematic assault on democracy and human rights ahead of the election.
In a statement on ‘Bangladesh’s January 7 General Election’, the President of Right to Freedom Ambassador William B Millam, also a senior US diplomat and specialist in South Asia and West Africa, said on December 29.
Since early 2023, Right to Freedom has called attention to Bangladesh’s deteriorating political situation and looming economic crisis, while providing a platform for those advocating for democracy and human rights.
With elections now just days away, we believe the Bangladesh Government should pay a price for its systematic assault on democracy and human rights, the statement said.
Simply put, the United States and other bilateral and multilateral actors engaged in Bangladesh must make it clear that it can no longer be business as usual, it added.
“We urge the Biden Administration and Congress to review all aspects of the US relationship with Bangladesh, to include bilateral and multilateral development assistance, security force cooperation, trade relations, and diplomatic engagement,” William B Millam said.
These actions will send a message to the Bangladesh government and it citizens, as well as others struggling to secure their rights around the world that the US is willing to back up its rhetoric with concrete action, he continued.
In the beginning of the statement, it was said that for many months, friends of Bangladesh have been sounding the alarm regarding the risk of the country’s 2024 general elections following the pattern witnessed in 2014 and 2018, in which the ruling party orchestrated results that deprived voters of the
chance to freely exercise their rights.
“This risk has now become a virtual certainty as preparations for a January 7 election proceed with thousands of opposition members in prison and only hand-picked candidates allowed to compete,” it expressed concerns.
“In reaching this point, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government and party have systematically closed off space for political protest and dissenting views.
Numerous international human rights groups and global media outlets have all concluded that free and far elections cannot take place in this environment,” William B Millam said.
For its part, the international community has been largely passive, issuing statements calling for free elections and for political dialogue but being unwilling to take meaningful actions to press PM Hasina to make this possible, he added.
