Senior BNP leaders have said that the US visa restriction imposed on citizens of Bangladesh is not good for the country, but they believe that these restrictions will play a positive role in the upcoming national parliament election.
Alleging that the electoral system of the country has been ruined due to the Awami League government, the BNP said opposition party leaders have faced torture and arrests over the last 14 years. Various actions, including the US visa restrictions, are being taken by the international community as a result of this.
While speaking to this correspondent, BNP leaders mentioned that these restrictions will have a positive impact on the elections and that this step by the US will help restore democracy in Bangladesh.
However, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described these visa restrictions for Bangladesh as insulting, and BNP insiders have expressed their disapproval of the restrictions.
When several senior BNP leaders were asked, they said that their leaders support democracy and that it is not yet time for the BNP to worry about the visa policy.
BNP leaders have squarely blamed the government for this situation. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir commented that the imposition of visa restrictions by the US is a disgrace for Bangladesh.
He said: “The Biden administration talks about democracy worldwide and has taken steps to support democracy in Bangladesh. They have fulfilled their duty.”
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and head of the foreign affairs committee, argued that this visa policy is a setback for the Awami League. Those expressing anger about it are the ones who will be affected by it.
BNP Executive Committee Member and former DNCC mayoral candidate Tabith Awal stated that the US visa policy will not have any positive or negative effects on the leaders of the BNP. The policy is based on the erosion of democracy in Bangladesh during the Awami League's rule, which the BNP has been highlighting for a long time.
On the other hand, while the visa restriction policy may paint a hopeful picture for the elections, it is not good news for anyone, according to many party leaders.
The individuals affected by these restrictions include members of law enforcement agencies, the ruling party, and the political opposition, as said by the US State Department in a Friday statement. However, the names of these individuals were not disclosed.
BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said it is rumoured that many leaders of the government party and officials of the administration have been impacted by this visa policy. He noted that America's ban and visa policy are a reflection of Bangladesh's 52-year journey.
Shama Obaid, BNP’s organizing secretary and International Relations Committee member, said the international community lacks confidence in the current government and that there is no conducive environment for elections in the country.
She pointed out that the European Union has announced it will not send any observers, and now the US has implemented the visa policy. Despite the challenges, she views the enforcement of the visa restrictions positively.