Fifteen lawmakers of Australia have urged the Australian Prime Minister to impose sanctions on Bangladeshi individuals involved in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. They expressed concerns about the ongoing human rights violations in Bangladesh and their potential impact on the upcoming national election.
“We believe that it is crucial for the election to be conducted in a free, fair, peaceful, inclusive and participatory manner,” said the lawmakers in the letter written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday.
The letter stated that “We are writing to you after the United States government’s recent announcement regarding a new visa policy in support of Bangladesh’s effort to conduct a democratic election. The policy restricts visas for Bangladeshi individuals suspected of undermining the election process, including government officials, political party members, law enforcement, judiciary, and security services.”
“We consider any actions that undermine the democratic election process, such as vote rigging, voter intimidation, or measures to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views, to be worrying. It is vital that our government follows suit with similar policies, whether through Magnitsky sanctions or otherwise, to ensure that individuals responsible for undermining the democratic process in Bangladesh cannot enter Australia,” read the letter.
The lawmakers said, “We are alarmed by the allegations of abuse of power by senior members of the ruling party and the shocking human rights violations suffered by ordinary citizens, community activists, union leaders, and opposition political party members. These crimes have been documented by Amnesty International, and by the US Department of State in its report on Bangladesh.”
“The reports of torture linked to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed’s government, particularly by the Rapid Action Battalion, which numerous internationally reputed NGOs have characterised as a government “death squad,” are deeply concerning. Two informers and former members of RAB confessed that the incidents of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances could not be possible without the approval of the Home Minister and Prime Minister have only added to our concern,” they added.
The lawmakers urged the Australian Prime Minister to take appropriate steps to guarantee that the upcoming election meets international standards for free, fair, peaceful, inclusive and participatory elections in Bangladesh.
“We urge you to make representations to the Bangladesh High Commissioner in this regard,” they said.
The letter said, “To ensure this, we believe The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner’s Human Rights Standards on Elections should be implemented and followed. The past two national elections in 2014 and 2018 were fraught with controversies and irregularities, including intimidation, and violence against opposition political parties, civil society, and the media. As reported by international human rights organisations, there have been extra-judicial killings, abductions, and torture inflicted upon ordinary citizens, community activists, union leaders, and opposition political party members.”
Fifteen lawmakers urged the Australian Prime Minister to develop a constructive relationship with the Bangladesh government representatives before the election to prevent what was witnessed in the 2014 and 2018 elections.
In the letter, the lawmakers placed three recommendations to the Australian government. The recommendations are: Clearly express to the Bangladesh government Australia’s expectation that the election will be held in accordance with the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner’s Human Rights Standards on Elections, commit to working with the Bangladesh government and the UN and international community to help supervise and conduct free and fair elections in Bangladesh, including ensuring unfettered access during the election period to independent electoral observers, and publicly place on notice the Bangladesh government that should any senior officials endorse, promote or participate in serious breaches of democratic electoral standards, that they will be considered by Australia for targeted Magnitsky sanctions.
The letter was signed by Senator David Shoebridge, Senator Jordon Steele-John, Adam Bandt MP, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Nick McKim, Senator Janet Rice, Senator Barbara Pocock, Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP, Stephen Bates MP, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Max Chandler-Mather MP and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
