Staff Reporter :
Diplomats of the US Embassy in Dhaka have suggested the Bangladeshis not to wait for humanitarian parole asylum in the United States, as the advantage is rare in that country.
Two diplomats of the US told the journalists on Thursday that the humanitarian parole is being used ‘sparingly’ to bring someone who is otherwise inadmissible into the US for a temporary period of time due to a compelling emergency.
Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Dhaka Andrea Brouillette-Rodriguez and Consul General of the Embassy Elizabeth Gourlay were talking to a group of journalists at the Embassy on the US ‘humanitarian parole asylum’ issue.
The two diplomats said that the humanitarian parole asylum is the last resort for those who are in extreme danger.
Andrea Brouillette-Rodriguez said that the US Embassy has no control on humanitarian parole. “Those who want to apply can courier their documents directly to the DHS. The details are available on the website.”
Echoing the same, Elizabeth Gourlay said, “The process takes time. So don’t wait for it. If you are in danger, go to a different country, or another city within your country, where you feel safe.”
Elizabeth Gourlay further said that it was ‘very rare’ to approve such parole. In her 30-year career she herself found one case that has been approved by the DHS. Brouillette-Rodriguez said that she found two cases in her 20 years of service. “This rigorous process can take more than 120 days. Those who are in extreme danger must not wait for such a long time,” she said.
The two diplomats called upon the government and people of Bangladesh to work together and reject extremists’ ideology.
After the latest killing of LGBT rights activist Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy, the US Department of State has said giving shelter to those in danger “is an option under consideration”. But it depends solely on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that is responsible for the humanitarian parole approval, the State Department had earlier said.
