US congressmen seek ‘timely response’ to save Bangladesh democracy

A bipartisan group of six influential members of US Congress has sought Washington's "timely response" to protect democracy in Bangladesh.

They made the call in a letter sent to US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, reports India-based news outlet The Economic Times on Wednesday.

The Congressmen, led by chair of foreign affairs committee of the House Eliot Engel, said that the allegations of widespread rigging and voter suppression during Bangladesh’s eleventh parliamentary election must be taken seriously.

"We are gravely concerned by the negative trajectory of democracy in Bangladesh and request an outline on how the Department intends to respond to this trend, particularly in light of the serious allegations that the outcome of the December 2018 elections lacked credibility," The Economic Times quoted the letter.

Observing that Bangladesh has a strong and proud democratic tradition, the Congressmen said they are dismayed that the campaign leading up to the election was marred by violence, mass arrests and a crackdown on free speech.

"The Awami League claimed 96 per cent of the seats contested -- more than the party and its allies won in 2014, when a key opposition party boycotted the general elections  and the Awami League ran unopposed in more than half of the seats contested," the letter said.

Asserting that supporting democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the Indo-Pacific region is critical to advancing US interests, the letter said the reports of widespread irregularities in Bangladesh's recent elections seriously threaten those important interests. 

Earlier, US Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm Philips Davidson also expressed deep concern over Bangladesh’s democracy in his deposition to the Congress.

"Bangladesh's 30 December elections point to a concerning trend of consolidation of power by the ruling Awami League and raise fears that PM Hasina is aiming to achieve a de facto one-party state," Davidson told the Senate's Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing.

He voiced the concern while calling Bangladesh an important country for the US, reports The Economic Times.

Bangladesh is an important security partner with strong potential to enhance regional stability and advance US interests in South Asia on counter-terrorism, Muslim outreach, countering violent extremism, supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, he said.