Special Correspondent: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said it would be better if the United States would apply its visa restriction policy on BNP’s men as they have been trying to resist the next general election.
“I would be happy if they (US) apply that (visa policy) on BNP,” he told reporters at foreign ministry on Wednesday afternoon.
On May 24 last, the US announced a new visa policy act to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections.
“The United States will be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh,” US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said in a statement while announcing the new policy.
Foreign minister Momen assumed that the US is in lack of trust in the BNP after seeing their terrorist acts.
Momen said that the US believes in democracy, but they did not see a democratic mindset from the BNP rather Washington may assume that it is like a terrorist party.
“No one likes terrorists,” he said.
Responding to a question whether the Awami League is under any foreign pressure regarding the election, Momen said, “No! We are not under any pressure from anyone rather the media has pressured us.”
The minister said the government is under pressure of its own as it is committed to hold a free, fair and acceptable election.
He said the Awami League government always wants to hold free and fair polls while the external world, including the US, is playing a supportive role in this regard.
Momen said the government wants people to go to polling centers to cast their votes in big numbers.
“If the voter turn is good, the election would be acceptable by all quarters,” he said.
Replying to a query, the foreign minister said Bangladesh doesn’t want to see any proxy war in this region as in middle and Europe.
