Foreign minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen in an immediate response to the media after the announcement of the new visa policy of the United States for Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Momen said, the visa policy of the US government can be helpful to us so that no one can obstruct the commitment and position of fair elections through incendiary movement.
United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has announced a new visa policy aimed at free, fair and peaceful national elections in Bangladesh.
The US Secretary of State said on Wednesday, "I am announcing today the new visa policy under Section 212(a)(3)(c)(3c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to support the goal of making the upcoming national elections free, fair and peaceful in Bangladesh." Under this policy, the United States may impose visa restrictions on any Bangladeshi individual deemed responsible or involved in obstructing Bangladesh's democratic election process.
Current and former Bangladeshi officials-employees, members of pro-government and opposition political parties and members of the law enforcement, judiciary and security forces have been included under this new policy, the US Secretary of State said.
A related statement issued later by the US Embassy in Bangladesh said that acts that obstruct the democratic election process include vote rigging, voter intimidation, violence against people's freedom of association, the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly, and various other actionsPreventing political parties, voters, civil society or the media from airing their views through adoption.
Blinken said that free and fair elections are the responsibility of everyone, including voters, political parties, government, security forces, civil society and the media. I announce this policy to extend our support to all those who want to advance democracy in Bangladesh.