The visa policy of the United States of America will help hold free, fair and credible election in Bangladesh, said Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen on Monday.
Due to the US visa restriction policy, BNP and other terror groups will not dare unleash fire terrorism and violence in Bangladesh, he said.
The Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen spoke to Bangladesh Post on Monday regarding the visa curb policy of the United States.
Dr. Momen said that Bangladesh government under Sheikh Hasina is firmly committed to holding a free, fair and credible election in Bangladesh. The prime minister herself has been reiterating her commitment on holding a free, fair and credible election on several occasion. Most recently in New York while addressing a civic reception accorded to her, she again spoke of free and fair polls. Hence, there is no scope for misinterpreting the impact of US visa policy that has been recently issued upon Bangladesh. When the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is firmly committed to upholding and continuing democracy, this initiative of US in the form of visa restriction is supportive to Bangladesh government and its cause.
America is a tested friend and development partner of Bangladesh. A huge area of cooperation between the United States of America and Bangladesh has been established and developed over the decades.
The US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has said the media in Bangladesh may also be listed in the newly implemented US visa restrictions policy along with the ruling party, opposition parties and law enforcement agencies. In this regard, the Foreign Minister said he is not sure about the applicability of visa restriction on media and if it at all happens, it will be inconsistent with American values and the very spirit of freedom of speech and press freedom.
The US Ambassador to Bangladesh also said that the family members of those who will obstruct the democratic process would also be included in the visa restriction list. The legal experts and human rights specialists are of the opinion that this goes against the basic law of any country. Someone cannot be held liable for any action of another and this is a fundamental principle of natural justice. If this happens, this would also be a violation of the principle of basic human rights. The laws of the US also do not support this kind of proposition as provided in the visa restriction of the US and can be challenged in a court of law.
A section of people who have the tendency to destabilize the country and to undermine the election process, are spreading countrywide propaganda and rumor with an ill motive to create confusion among people regarding the visa policy of the US. They take people to be stupid when it fits their personal and party interest. They need to realize that this visa restriction should apply on some opposition parties including BNP who want to foil the election of Bangladesh as US spokespersons are saying that this visa restriction will be applied for the sake of fair elections.
