The United States is contemplating the possibility of implementing further visa restrictions in Bangladesh as the country approaches the 12th parliamentary elections. However, the US government remains steadfast in its decision to keep the identities and quantities of individuals subject to these restrictions confidential.
In an exclusive email response to Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday, Bryan Schiller, spokesperson for the US Embassy in Dhaka, disclosed that Washington was open to considering additional visa restrictions in Bangladesh in the lead-up to the general elections.
However, he emphasized that the names and exact numbers of those facing these restrictions would not be disclosed.
This development follows the recent announcement by the US State Department regarding the enforcement of visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals allegedly involved in undermining the democratic electoral process in the country. While specific identities were not divulged, the State Department's statement did mention that the targeted individuals encompassed members of law enforcement agencies, members of the ruling party, and figures from the political opposition.
The visa restriction policy, known as "3c", empowers the US government to impose these restrictions on any individual found to be interfering with democratic elections, as per Bryan Schiller's explanation. This broad scope extends to virtually anyone involved in activities detrimental to the electoral process.
Dhaka Tribune seeks clarity
Dhaka Tribune sought clarification on several key aspects of the visa restrictions:
First, the newspaper inquired whether the US authorities could provide a range of the number of individuals affected by the visa policy for elections, even if specific names were withheld. Dhaka Tribune asked if the number of affected individuals was fewer or greater than 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, or 1,000.
Second, Dhaka Tribune sought examples of actions that might trigger sanctions under the visa restriction policy, with the aim of providing readers with a clearer understanding of the policy's scope.
Third, the newspaper asked whether media organizations could potentially face sanctions and whether such a move would contradict the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
US response
Bryan Schiller, in a collective response to these inquiries, said: "On September 22, the Department of State announced it was taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. These individuals included members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition. This is the first round of visa restrictions. But, if necessary, there will be other rounds.
"The visa restriction policy known as ‘3c’ can impose these visa restrictions on ANYONE found to be undermining democratic elections. The operative word is ANYONE.
"Actions that undermine democratic elections could include vote rigging, voter intimidation, the use of violence to prevent people from exercising their rights to freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from participating in the electoral process or expressing their views.
"We will not publicly release the names or numbers of people subject to these visa restrictions. Visa records are confidential under US law. But rest assured that the US government has looked very closely at incidents since we announced this policy.”
