M Mushfiqul Fazal, State Department correspondent
The United States thinks that it’s important to send this signal to the people of Bangladesh that we back free and fair elections and are ready to take action.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller made the remark at a briefing on Wednesday while replying to a query about US’s new visa policy to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections, restricting visa for any Bangladeshi individual undermining the democratic election process.
The spokesperson said the policy that they announced is designed to support the efforts for holding a free and fair election, as well as the efforts of the Bangladeshi people to have elections where the Bangladeshi people can choose their leaders.
In the briefing, State Department correspondent M Mushfiqul Fazal asked, “All Bangladeshi political parties, civil society groups, everybody is asking for an election under a neutral caretaker government, which was in Bangladesh but this government amended the constitution unconstitutionally. So I’m wondering if the US is urging for a neutral caretaker government to hold a free, fair election.”
In reply, Matthew Miller said, “I think what we will say is Prime Minister Hasina has committed to supporting free and fair elections. We share her support for free and fair elections, and the policy that we announced today is designed to support those efforts, as well as the efforts of the Bangladeshi people to have elections where the Bangladeshi people can choose their leaders.”
“And I will say lastly, as friends, we have expressed our concerns where we see actions that undermine democracy and human rights in Bangladesh,” he added.
In reply to a question from another journalist, the spokesperson said, “In addition to allowing us the ability to take action under this section of the law, we think it’s important to send this signal to the people of Bangladesh that we back free and fair elections and are ready to take action.”
The US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Wednesday announced a new visa policy to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections, restricting visa for any Bangladeshi individual undermining the democratic election process.
“Today, I am announcing a new visa policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) (“3C”) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections. Under this policy, the United States will be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services. The United States notified the Bangladeshi government of this decision on May 3, 2023,” said Blinken.
The US Secretary of State said, “The holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone-voters, political parties, the government, the security forces, civil society, and the media. I am announcing this policy to lend our support to all those seeking to advance democracy in Bangladesh.”
MN/
