By Mir Afroz Zaman, Dhaka, Sept 26, 2023 : There were many questions about the last two national elections raised in the country and internationally.
The Western world, including the United States, the European Union, have been putting pressure on the government in various ways at the beginning of the year to hold the next parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in a free, fair and impartial manner.
The Awami League government has also been telling the western world including the United States of America to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections in a free, fair and impartial manner. But even after assuring the western world of fair elections, the United States started applying its visa policy on Bangladesh, making the rulers here rethink.
However, the top leaders of the party have not wanted to take it into account since the US announced the visa policy. Some of the ruling Awami League (AL) leaders are also talking about counter-sanctions after the US sanctions.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning home from Singapore last Saturday after treatment, that Awami League does not care about the visa policy and restrictions of the United States.
The leaders of the party think that the US visa policy is not only for Awami League, this also applies to the opposition. That is, visa policy will be applied to those who will obstruct the process for fair elections. However, it has been reported from various sources that this visa policy is actually being applied to the government and the stakeholders of the government.
Yesterday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (Media) Farooq Hossain said in response to a question from reporters, that the American visa policy has been imposed on some members of the law enforcement force, but they do not know who they are. If the visa policy comes into effect, they may not be able to enter the country.
Awami League leaders say that the United States wants free and fair elections in this country. The Awami League government has also been talking about free and fair elections in this country. The party and the government have been assuring of a fair election in all the meetings held so far in the diplomatic circles.
However, the announcement of the new visa policy by the United States has created a mystery. What does the United States really want in this country? Whether this visa policy is being applied for a specific political purpose is also a matter of thinking.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a press conference at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York after the United Nations session that she hopes that the country that has imposed the visa ban will consider the issue from both sides or neutrally. But if only Awami League is targeted, there is nothing to say.
In this context, Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told UNI today(Tuesday) that it does not matter to us who sanctioned or not. We want fair elections. I think that those who do not want fair elections in this country are encouraging the United States to impose such visa policies and restrictions. Because BNP is talking arrogantly after the announcement of the visa policy, they are excited.
He also said that BNP-Jamaat is conspiring to derail the elections as they do not want fair elections. They are giving veiled threats in various ways. If the trust of the people of is country is spoiled and autocratic rule is encouraged by subverting democratic system, and BNP-Jamaat resort to arson attacks again, they will be strongly resisted.
The BNP and its allies are campaigning for the downfall of the government to demand elections under a non-partisan caretaker government ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, Awami League is adamant about holding elections under the party government in the light of the amended constitution and the party has started making full preparations for the upcoming national parliament elections.
In this context, since the beginning of this year, several states and organizations of the Western world including the United States, the European Union have been telling the government that they want to see a fair election in Bangladesh. Despite the government’s assurance, the United States announced a new visa policy for Bangladesh on May 24. It said that those involved in electoral fraud and obstruction of the electoral process in Bangladesh will not be granted US visas.
After giving the visa policy, the government tried to improve relations with the United States. At the G-20 conference held in India this month, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s selfie with US President Joe Biden inspired central and grassroots leaders and activists. The central leaders wanted to bring home the benefits of this.
But as the head of government attended the United Nations General Session, the United States announced on Friday that it would begin imposing visa restrictions on those responsible for obstructing the democratic election process in Bangladesh. Matthew Miller, spokesman for the country’s foreign ministry, announced the decision in a statement.
Awami League’s grassroots level leaders and activists are now very disappointed by this announcement, it has been known while talking to several related leaders.
According to them, the relationship between the United States and the Awami League has not been going well for a long time. Although the United States gave visa policy, there was no problem within the party. Finally, at the G-20 summit held in India, US President Joe Biden took a selfie with our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and showed great generosity. It has a lot of influence on the politics of Bangladesh.
The morale of the Awami League leaders and workers at all levels became stronger and the election preparations started anew. But since the implementation of the visa policy has started, the party has lost some ground from the grassroots. Some of the leaders of the government party think that the European Union will be in danger if it follows the path of sanctions or strict measures after the United States. There are also fears that if something like that happens, it may become difficult to control the situation.
However, organizing secretary of Awami League Advocate Afzal Hossain thinks that there is no alternative to hold elections on time according to the constitution after dealing with all the situations.
He told UNI that we are preparing for the next National Assembly elections under the leadership of our leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Elections will be conducted in our country as in other democratic countries. In that election, we hope that the people will choose Awami League to continue the development and progress of the country.
