No change in visa policy for Bangladeshis: US
Staff Reporter :
The State Department has indicated that visa restrictions targeting individuals from Bangladesh implicated in undermining the electoral process will remain in effect, even after the completion of the country’s 12th parliamentary election.
Vedant Patel, the State Department Spokesperson, confirmed during a Monday briefing that the existing policies would persist, emphasizing the absence of any policy changes or updates.
These remarks were made in response to inquiries about the continuation of the visa restrictions under the 3C visa policy, aimed at individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining elections.
This stance comes amid criticisms that the recent elections in Bangladesh may not have accurately reflected the will of the people.
The visa policy adjustments were announced on September 22, preceding the January 7 parliamentary election, signaling the U.S. government’s intent to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals, including members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition, who are found to be undermining the democratic election process.
The policy underscores the United States’ commitment to supporting the conduct of free, fair, and peacefully held elections in Bangladesh.
According to the policy, individuals and their immediate family members who are identified as undermining the democratic election process could be deemed ineligible for entry into the United States.
Future ineligibility for U.S. visas could also apply to current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of both opposition and ruling political parties, and individuals within the judiciary, law enforcement, and security services, should they be found complicit in such activities.
The implementation of these visa restrictions sparked significant controversy within Bangladesh’s political landscape.
The Awami League government expressed its rejection of the policy but affirmed its commitment to conducting a free and fair election.
Post-election, the U.S. government critiqued the electoral process as lacking in fairness and transparency, calling for investigations into election-related violence.
Additionally, the State Department voiced concerns over the situation surrounding Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, specifically regarding the Bangladeshi government’s recent corruption charges against him and attempts to limit his international travel through judicial means.
A coalition of 243 global leaders, including 125 Nobel laureates, along with a bipartisan group of 12 U.S. senators led by Senator Dick Durbin, have expressed apprehension over what they perceive as judicial harassment of Professor Yunus.
The State Department shares these concerns, suggesting that the legal actions against Yunus might represent a misuse of Bangladesh’s labor laws for intimidation purposes. The U.S. hopes for a fair and transparent legal process for Professor Yunus as his appeals continue.
