Dhaka: Bangladesh will take steps to tackle and prevent unlawful practices or interference in its elections, authorities said, a day after the United States threatened curbs on citizens of the South Asian nation who undermine them.
Concern arose after allegations of vote manipulation and targeting of the political opposition disrupted national elections in 2014 and 2018, claims the Sheikh Hasina government, whose Awami League party won both, has consistently denied.
The 2014 polls were boycotted by the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is adopting a new policy to restrict visas for Bangladeshis who undermine the democratic election process at home. He said the US was supporting “free, fair and peaceful national elections” and would target either pro-government or opposition supporters in the deeply polarised nation.
“I am announcing this policy to lend our support to all those seeking to advance democracy in Bangladesh,” said Blinken, who already has authority under the US law to restrict visas over election meddling.
He stated that those who are "believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh" might be affected, including current or former officials and lawmakers, members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services.
In response, the Bangladesh foreign ministry issued a statement, assuring of free and fair elections, due in January next year.
“The government apparatus will take necessary measures to prevent and address any unlawful practices or interference … to compromise the smooth and participatory conduct of the elections,” it said.
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in capital Doha, Hasina also promised a fair election.
“I am here to ensure our people’s voting rights because people should decide who will run the country. It is people’s power. I want to ensure people’s power,” she said.
“I am not here to grab power, rather I want to empower our people. They should have that right to choose their government. So under our government, elections will definitely be free and fair.”