State Department correspondent
February 5, Monday, Washington
In a press briefing held on Monday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel addressed questions on the implementation of visa restrictions under the 3C visa policy and expressed concerns over the recent corruption charges against Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh.
3C visa policy status clarified
State Department correspondent Mushfiqul Fazal questioned principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel about the status of implementing visa restrictions under the 3C visa policy, raising concerns about the recent elections in Bangladesh.
Vedant responded, "So I don’t have any updates or changes to offer when it comes to policy. My understanding is that these policies don’t sunset just because the election is over, but I don’t have any updates to offer."
When asked if the policies still exist, Mr. Patel affirmed, "Yes. There is no change in policy."
Concerns over Yunus case
Mushfiqul Fazal went on to inquire about the fresh corruption charge against Professor Muhammad Yunus, highlighting the government's restriction on his ability to travel abroad through another court order. A coalition of 243 global leaders, including 125 Nobel laureates, expressed concern over the judicial harassment of Professor Yunus. Additionally, 12 bipartisan U.S. senators, led by Senator Dick Durbin, called for a halt to all harassment.
In response, the spokesperson stated, "Look, we share concerns voiced by other international observers that these cases may represent a misuse of Bangladesh’s labor laws to intimidate Dr. Yunus. And our hope is that we would encourage the Bangladeshi Government to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for Dr. Yunus as the appeals process continues."
The State Department's remarks reflect ongoing concerns over democratic processes in Bangladesh, emphasizing the importance of a fair and transparent legal process for individuals such as Professor Muhammad Yunus.
MR/
