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.
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The US notified the Bangladeshi government of this decision on May 3, Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said in a statement on Wednesday.
On Sunday, the US Embassy in Dhaka issued a “Demonstration Alert”, asking US citizens in Bangladesh to move with caution and avoid protests.
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The announcement came at a time when rumours of fresh US sanctions are rife in Bangladesh after the daily Kalbela newspaper ran a report on this recently, with the government brushing aside any possibility. The Foreign Ministry statement describes the Kalbela report as “completely false and baseless.”
The policy was declared 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, he added.
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“Actions that undermine the democratic election process include vote rigging, voter intimidation, the use of violence to prevent people from exercising their right to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views,” Blinken said.
He added that 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.
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“I am announcing this policy to lend our support to all those seeking to advance democracy in Bangladesh,” Blinken said.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said there was no reason for new US sanctions on Bangladesh, and he hoped that good sense would prevail over the situation.
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It would be “very unfortunate” if new sanctions were imposed without cause, he added.
On May 15, Bangladesh withdrew a special police escort given to the ambassadors of the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia and India for several years. The government said regular police protection at the embassies, residences and clubs would continue.
