US : legislators warn of election-related concerns in Bangladesh
US: Strong US legislators have warned Bangladesh’s interim administration that free and fair elections cannot be achieved if political participation is curtailed before to the February elections, raising concerns over a ban on political parties.
Congressmen Gregory W. Meeks, Bill Huizenga, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove wrote to Dr. Mohammed Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, urging the government to cooperate with people from all political backgrounds in order to rebuild trust in democratic institutions. Representatives Thomas R. Suozzi and Julie Johnson co-signed the letter.
The MPs wrote to Yunus on Tuesday, saying, “We welcome your willingness to step forward at a moment of national crisis in Bangladesh to lead an interim government ahead of elections in February of next year.”
According to them, it is “essential that the interim government collaborate with political parties to establish the framework for free and fair elections that enable the peaceful expression of the Bangladeshi people’s voice at the voting booth, as well as reforms that restore confidence in the integrity and nonpartisanship of state institutions.”
Congressmen expressed serious concern that such conditions could not be met “if the government suspends activities of political parties or again restarts the flawed International Crimes Tribunal,” cautioning Yunus that doing so could jeopardize public confidence in the electoral process at a crucial juncture.
The lawmakers wrote in the two-page letter that the credibility of the upcoming election would depend on whether the interim authorities showed a clear break from practices that had drawn international criticism, citing the US Department of State and other international observers’ conclusion that Bangladesh’s 2018 and 2024 general elections “were not free or fair.”
The Congressmen wrote: “Genuine accountability for these acts and others should model the values of Bangladesh’s democracy, rather than continue a cycle of retaliation.” They cited a February fact-finding report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which estimated that security services killed 1,400 people during protests in July and August 2024.
The choice to halt a political party’s operations was one of the MPs’ main concerns. They said that “freedom of association and the principle of individual rather than collective criminal responsibility are fundamental human rights.” The MPs said that it was against such ideals to completely suspend a party instead of bringing people responsible via the legal system.
They emphasized that meaningful involvement was crucial to rebuilding public confidence and asked Yunus or an elected successor to review the ruling. “In the end, the people of Bangladesh should have the ability to elect a government through a free and fair election where all political parties can take part and have their voices heard,” the MPs said.
Bangladesh was described as “a critical partner for the United States” in the letter, which also emphasized the larger bilateral context. In the coming months, the parliamentarians said that they were prepared to collaborate with the temporary administration to promote Bangladesh’s democratic transition as well as the bilateral relationship.
Representative Thomas R. Suozzi wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to request briefings on the protection of religious minorities in Bangladesh. This is a different but connected issue. Suozzi expressed worries about the abuse of blasphemy laws, citing “recent reports about the murder of Hindu minorities.” He requested that the relevant authorities be made accessible to inform him so that he could address the concerns of his Bangladeshi-American constituents.