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As US Leadership Increases Global Pressure on Bangladesh, Zahid F Sarder Saddi Grows Optimistic About 2024 Elections

❝Bangladeshi Human Rights Activist and Civil Society Leader Zahid F Sarder Saddi welcomes new visa policy issued by US State Department and increasing support of human rights and free elections in Bangladesh by US Congress.❞

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 2, 2023 / Since January 2009, the regime led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled Bangladesh and has established a well-documented trail of human rights abuses, including torture, disappeared opponents, rape, extrajudicial killings, jailed journalists, and assaulted or killed peaceful protesters. Now, as the country's 2024 national elections approach, Zahid F Sarder Saddi, who is the Foreign Advisor to the Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon' Begum Khaleda Zia, says that because of the commitment of the US State Department and Congressional leadership, Bangladeshis may be able to participate in free, fair polls if they are conducted by a neutral caretaker government. Otherwise, this will be impossible under the Sheikh Hasina regime.

The State Department's pressure on Bangladesh to respect the rights of its citizens increased in April 2023, when Secretary Blinken met in Washington DC with Bangladesh Foreign Minister A. K. Abdul Momen. In May 2023, Secretary Blinken sent an even clearer message, emphasizing that the world, including the United States, is looking to Bangladesh to set a strong example of free and fair elections for the region and beyond. Supportive statements were also issued by Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

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Photo: Bangladeshi Human Rights Activist and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F Sarder Saddi with United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken

Now US leadership appears to be further coalescing around the issue of democratic elections in Bangladesh. Secretary Blinken has announced a new visa policy that will "restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services."

"Secretary Blinken's decision is very important because in Bangladesh, vote rigging, voter intimidation, and the use of violence and other measures to prevent Bangladeshis from expressing their views, assembling peacefully, and voting are all very common," says Zahid F Sarder Saddi. "I thank him for implementing this new visa policy and for caring about the human and civil rights of everyone in Bangladesh."

"The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) hopes it can help ensure credible polls and welcomes the new visa policy of the US. BNP hopes that it will play a supporting role in ensuring a fair election," BNP standing committee member and former Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury says.

Khasru, who is also the chairman of the BNP's foreign affairs committee, said the US move has sent a message that the people of Bangladesh can't exercise their right to franchise and their constitutional rights have been taken away.

"We welcome this decision of the US, as it was made considering the concern of the people of Bangladesh over the next general election. I think this step will at least play a supporting role in holding the next polls in a fair and credible manner," human rights defender BNP's International Affairs Secretary Barrister Abdus Salam states.

US Congressmen have also stepped forward. Scott Perry (PA-10), Bob Good (VA-05), Barry Moore (AL-02), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Warren Davidson (OH-08), and Keith Self (TX-03) were all signatories to an urgent letter that requested that President Biden impose "stricter individual sanctions, banning Bangladesh law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions."

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Photo: Six United States Congressmen seek ‘stricter sanctions', ban on Bangladesh's participation in UN Peacekeeping Force

The letter emphasized that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed "has increasingly repudiated democratic systems [and] perpetrated widespread abuse against its citizens." The Congressional leaders requested urgent action to stop human rights abuses in Bangladesh, including by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), "the major perpetrator of torture, disappearances, and extra judicial killings in Bangladesh."

zahidfsardersaddi, Friday, June 2, 2023, Press release picture

"I thank these US Congressmen for taking a stand against some of the worst human rights violations in Southeast Asia," says Zahid F Sarder Saddi. "Because they are willing to speak up for Bangladeshis and urge reform, they are helping us to push back against the backsliding of democratic norms. The United States government is showing that they are true friends of the Bangladeshi people."

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Photo: Human Rights Activist, Civil Society Leader and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F Sarder Saddi with United States Congressman Scott Perry | US CONGRESS

With the 2024 general elections only months away, Zahid F Sarder Saddi believes that everyone who believes in the cause of global human rights must keep up the pressure on the Bangladeshi government.

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Photo: High-ranking Bangladeshi delegate team headed by the former Minister of Bangladesh and Standing Committee Member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury at United States Congress with Congressman Scott Perry | US CONGRESS

"Free and fair elections can only be held when voters, political parties, the government, civil society, the media, and security forces respect the will of the people," says Zahid F Sarder Saddi. "We will continue to work tirelessly around the world until the day finally comes when we ‘Take Back Bangladesh.'"

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Photo: Human Rights Activist, Civil Society Leader and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F Sarder Saddi

About - Zahid F Sarder Saddi

Zahid F Sarder Saddi is a prominent Bangladeshi politician, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He served as a Foreign Advisor to the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon' Begum Khaleda Zia. He was also appointed as a Special Envoy to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP. Zahid F Sarder Saddi works with several organizations and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. He has been involved in the Bangladeshi American Society for over 25 years and works to carry the voice of Bangladeshi Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F Sarder Saddi is also a Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Bangla Times, a leading Bangladeshi English and Bangla language newspaper. Zahid F Sarder Saddi has received numerous accolades, including a humanitarian award for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic in helping to promote vaccine distribution to the Bangladeshi population.

To learn more about Zahid F Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F Sarder Saddi at info@zahidfsardersaddi.com.

SOURCE: Zahid F Sarder Saddi



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https://www.accesswire.com/758905/As-US-Leadership-Increases-Global-Pressure-on-Bangladesh-Zahid-F-Sarder-Saddi-Grows-Optimistic-About-2024-Elections

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