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US taking steps to impose visa curbs on Bangladeshis
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Hasina is visiting the US to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. On Tuesday, she attended a banquet hosted by US President Joe Biden for global leaders. On Thursday, Hasina held a meeting with US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya and US Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu.
After yesterday’s announcement, Zeya wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Secretary Blinken’s announcement affirms our commitment to free, fair & peaceful elections worldwide and supports efforts of government of Bangladesh partners, civil society and media to ensure democratic elections that reflect the will of Bangladeshi people.”
Earlier on May 24, Washington announced the visa policy against the backdrop of the alleged irregularities in the 2014 and 2018 elections. It came when the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP are at odds over the polls-time administration just ahead of the national elections due by January next year.
The government says the elections will be held under the current administration as per the constitution, but the opposition BNP is demanding an interim administration, arguing that a free and fair election is not possible under the current government.
In the visa policy announcement on May 24, Washington said the actions that undermine the democratic election process include vote rigging, voter intimidation, use of violence to prevent people from exercising their right to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, and use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken had then said the visa restriction is not directed against any particular political party, rather it targets individuals engaging in behaviour that undermines the democratic election process, regardless of affiliation.
Following the announcement, Awami League leaders had said BNP should be worried, as violence before or during the election may trigger visa restrictions. BNP leaders had welcomed it, saying the policy would play a supporting role in ensuring fair elections.
Contacted last night, Awami League’s International Affairs Secretary Shammi Ahmed said, “This is nothing new… I don’t think we have anything to worry.”
Reactions from BNP leaders were not immediately available.
Earlier on December 10, 2021, the US imposed sanctions on Rab and seven of its current and former officials for alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and tortures.
Over the last two years, top US officials made several visits to Bangladesh. They invariably spoke of free and fair elections, upholding human rights, media freedom and protection of human rights defenders.

Heavy rain exposes
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Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, said the rains and subsequent flooding had presumably damaged goods worth crores of taka.
At many kitchen markets, traders could not open their shops even after the waters receded because the floors were covered in a thick layer of mud.
As incessant rains began to lash the city Thursday evening, the streets got inundated soon. Vehicles broke down in the middle of streets, resulting in congestion and gridlocks that in some places could not be cleared until the break of day.
People risked falling into manholes without lids as they waded through waist-deep water. Many were seen draining bucketfuls of water from their cars.
At a shop of retail chain RFL Best Buy in Shenpara, Mirpur, Mehedi Hasan, the manager, was draining water from his store after 3:00pm yesterday.
He said the electronics on the bottom shelves got damaged.
Grocery store owners in the area said their refrigerators went out of order because of the inundation.
Dhaka North City Corporation CEO Selim Reza said fixing the problem of waterlogging would take time because the canals through which water would have flowed to the rivers have been either clogged by garbage or filled up by encroachers.
Dhaka South City Corporation CEO Mizanur Rahman and Superintendent Engineer Khairul Baker could not be reached over the phone.