US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas held a meeting with several leaders from the ruling Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and the Jatiya Party regarding the newly announced US visa policy on Thursday.
Multiple sources have confirmed that the officials discussed the new visa policy announced by the United States, the upcoming national parliamentary polls, the positions of the Awami League and the BNP, the possibility of political dialogues, and the role of the US embassy.
The meeting took place at the American ambassador's residence in Gulshan in the capital on Thursday. Beginning at 12 noon, it ended at around 2pm.
Sources from the meeting disclosed that among the attendees were Awami League Information and Research Secretary Dr Salim Mahmud, Member of the Central Executive Committee Prof Mohammad Ali Arafat, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid, Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, and the party's Presidium Member Maj (retd) Rana Mohammad Sohel.
Sources said leaders of the political parties mainly discussed the potential impacts of the new US visa policy.
Awami League Central Executive Committee Member Professor MA Arafat said: “The US ambassador told us that the visa policy is not against any group, person or organization. It will be effective against those who obstruct the election process and resort to violence.”
Pointing out that the US ambassador wanted to know the reaction of the ruling Awami League on the visa policy, he said: "We have said - the government and the Awami League want a free, fair and peaceful election. It's not just words, we will show it. The United States does not want election violence, and neither do we — we have emphasized that to Peter Haas.”
MA Arafat also said that the BNP leaders made their usual complaints during the discussion.
“They claimed that the country does not have an environment to hold elections, and the government is disturbing them. They will only win if there is a free, fair, and impartial election,” he noted.
Arafat added that they tried to limit the discussion on the visa policy when the BNP was complaining about the government.
“I did not want to create any kind of controversy like talk shows in the meeting. We have spoken our part, and the BNP and the Jatiya Party have spoken theirs. The US ambassador has heard everyone,” he said.
According to MA Arafat, after hearing all the sides, Peter Haas said: "In some cases, the US can help, but not everything is possible…”
Meanwhile, the BNP has said it welcomes the visa policy announced by the US.
After the meeting, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that this policy is a “big signal” against vote rigging by the ruling party.
“This decision of the United States has come considering the current context of Bangladesh. We welcome this decision of the US as it was made considering the concern of the people of Bangladesh over the (next general) election. I think this step will at least play a supporting role in holding the next polls in a fair and credible manner,” he said.
After the meeting, General Secretary of Jatiya Party Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu told journalists: "The US government has asked for the opinion of the political parties on the visa policy announced for Bangladesh. Each party has given its opinion.”
The Awami League and the BNP talked about each other, the election, law and order forces during the meeting, he added.
Chunnu added: “The intention behind the US visa policy concerning Bangladesh is to ensure a fair and competitive election. Our party shares the same stance on this issue."
Meanwhile, the official Facebook page of the US Embassy Dhaka had a post uploaded about the meeting.
The post reads: “We support free and fair elections. The new visa policy to restrict visas to those who undermine the democratic process applies to everyone.”
“Ambassador Peter Haas met today with representatives of the Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, and JatiyaParty,” it adds.
The United States has announced a new visa policy that will allow its government to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process.
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.