US Visa Curbs: Awami League Under 'Pressure', BNP Cautious

In order to make the polls of Bangladesh fair and free, the United States announced the visa policy on May 24. After four months, last Friday (September 22), the United States said that steps are being taken to impose visa restrictions on those responsible and involved in obstructing the local election process. These individuals include members of law enforcement, ruling political parties, and opposition parties.

The Awami League government is under a certain degree of pressure with the imposition of the US visa policy. The top leaders of the ruling AL, however, are not admitting to this pressure. They say that there are political motives behind this move of the US.

BNP, on the other hand, blames the government singularly for this predicament. The party is also observing the present situation cautiously.

BNP, in a one-point movement for the resignation of the government and polls under a non-partisan government, feels that this measure of the US may create a situation more favourable for them politically. However, certain central leaders of the Awami League see the US step as an interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

Senior minister of the government and Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzaque, said on Saturday (23 September), “The US step regarding Bangladesh’s election is shameful for the country. It would be shameful for any country. But there may be political motives behind this.” This Awami League leader blames BNP and Jamaat for this step taken by the US.

On the other hand, senior leaders of BNP maintain that it is the Awami League government that has brought Bangladesh into confrontation with the international community. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the government is singularly responsible for the US visa restrictions. This is humiliating and shameful for the country.

Mirza Fakhrul said, that after 52 years of independence, the US visa restrictions have come on the question of free and fair polls. This is not what our country deserves. The opposition political parties including BNP have no responsibility for this, the government is solely responsible.

The BNP Secretary General said that the BNP is not worried about visa restrictions. Because this situation has been created because of the government. As a result, it is a matter of concern for those in power.

Meanwhile, US Embassy spokesperson Bryan Schiller said, "After a careful review of the evidence, we have imposed visa restrictions on members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition."

When asked whether the United States will disclose the names of the persons who come under the visa restrictions, the embassy spokesperson said, the United States will not disclose the names of the persons who come under the visa restrictions. Bryan Schiller said the United States will not release names due to the confidentiality of visa records under US law.

Earlier, in December 2021, the United States sanctioned seven officers of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for alleged human rights violations. The then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed is among the seven people who have been banned. The then director general (DG) of RAB, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who has been under that ban, is now the IG of the police.