Reactions to US visa restriction: Who said what
The restrictions have generated reactions from both ends of the political parties, as well as some by the civil society and diplomats
The United States (US) has enforced visa restrictions on individuals within the law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition – individuals "responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh".
According to a press statement issued by the US Department of State on Friday (22 September), these individuals and their immediate family members may be barred from entering the US.
Besides, additional persons found complicit in undermining the election may also be found ineligible for US visas under this policy in the future.
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"This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of opposition and ruling political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services," the US State Department said.
It said the actions reflect the US' continued commitment to supporting Bangladesh's goal of peacefully holding free and fair national elections.
The US visa policy comes at a time when there is also an ongoing moment by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) calling for the government to resign and calls for national election under a non-partisan caretaker government.
The restrictions have generated reactions from both ends of the political parties, as well as some by the civil society and diplomats.
Here is who said what regarding the US visa policy.
AL does not care about visa policies and restrictions of other countries: Quader
The Awami League does not care about visa policies and restrictions of other countries, said AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday (23 September).
"The fate of politics in Bangladesh has been determined by two selfies within a week. BNP leaders' have been losing their sleep after seeing the selfies," he added.
Voters not thinking of going to US: Momen tells Al Jazeera
Bangladeshi voters are not bothered by the US visa restrictions because they probably are not thinking of going to the US, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told Al Jazeera on Saturday (23 September).
US didn't issue any statement regarding anyone in particular: Home minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Saturday (23 September) the visa policy is up to the United States.
"The decision to grant visas or not is solely at the discretion of the country. The US government has not issued any statement regarding any individual in particular," he said.
"They have said the visa policy may be enforced against those who obstruct fair elections or attempt to manipulate the upcoming election," the minister added.
Nothing to lose from visa restrictions: Shahriar Alam
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has said the government has nothing to lose and that they are not worried about the visa restrictions issue, as they are doing nothing wrong.
Talking to reporters at his residence Friday (22 September) night, he also said there is no reason to see further sanctions from the US before the next elections as the government has received assurance from the US side adequately.
US visa policy aims to intimidate Bangladesh govt: Menon
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon on Saturday (23 September) said the visa policy of the US is aimed to intimidate the Bangladesh government.
"Actually, the United States is trying to intimidate Bangladesh government to force the country to bow down to them and accept its Indo-Pacific policy to ensure their position in the Bay of Bengal," Menon said.
Meanwhile, BNP has deemed the visa restrictions are humiliating and shameful for the nation. BNP also said the government was solely responsible for the US visa policy for Bangladeshis.
Visa restrictions are humiliating and shameful for the nation: Fakhrul
"These visa restrictions are humiliating and shameful for the nation," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters in Dhaka on Saturday (23 September).
US imposed sections because there is no democracy in Bangladesh: Shamsuzzaman
"Why would such restrictions be imposed on Bangladesh? Why did they do it? Because there is no democracy, no voting rights, no human rights existing in Bangladesh," said Shamsuzzaman Dudu, addressing a protest rally outside the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday (23 September).
Visa sanctions will greatly accelerate our ongoing movement to restore democracy: Alal
"These developments will greatly accelerate the opposition's ongoing movement to restore democracy," said BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal
Meanwhile, the civil society said a public announcement of the US visa policy is humiliating for Bangladesh.
"The US can deny anyone's entry to their country but why did they make a public announcement? The announcement is humiliating and embarrassing for us and not acceptable," said Munshi Faiz Ahmad, a former diplomat, at the programme titled "Polls Ahead: Which direction is politics going?" in the capital on Saturday (23 September)
