Washington: USA has linked the visa policy for Bangladesh with democratic values.
The US Secretary of State has said that the new visa policy is to support free, transparent and peaceful national elections in Bangladesh, and those who sabotage the democratic election process will not be granted US visa.
In his statement on the social networking website Twitter, he said that the policy will be applied to the authorities, security forces, judiciary and political leaders. Among the factors that sabotage democratic values are rigging in elections, intimidation of voters.
Today, I announced a new visa policy to promote free and fair elections. Under this policy, we can impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 24, 2023
Antony Blanken said that preventing the political parties, voters, civil society and the media from presenting their stand is not tolerated.
It should be noted that the elections will be held in January in Bangladesh, the opposition parties have demanded the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid to establish a transitional government.
