Staff Reporter :
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas expressed concern about the Digital Security Act (DSA), human rights, press freedom and other issues. He said, “There can be no excuse when it comes to democracy and human rights. The United States has raised concern about press freedom, as the Digital Security Act, and several draft laws and regulations could inhibit press freedom. We are concerned about human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.”
He said US wants a free, fair and participatory election in Bangladesh which must be acceptable to the international arena.
“The people of Bangladesh have to come forward to make the next national parliamentary elections fair,” the US ambassador passed the remarks while answering queries from newsmen at Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
Peter Haas also said the election commission is playing an important role and it is also important for them to maintain neutrality.
“The election process has informally started, which we can read in newspapers,” the US ambassador added. “So it is for us from now on to remain alert about whether a free, fair and international standard election is being held.”
Peter Haas has said that upholding human rights is at the core of the US foreign policy. Press freedom is also an important issue of the US foreign policy. He said there would be no compromise on these matters.
In the context of current economic crisis in Sri Lanka, it is being said that Bangladesh may also fall into the debt trap. When asked about the matter, the US ambassador said Bangladesh is not Sri Lanka. Bangladesh economy has its own characteristic. Bangladesh has made progress economically. The foreign exchange reserve is also good. Bangladesh is also well aware of the conditions in availing loans.
Peter Haas also said Bangladesh has taken major portion of its loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank and Japan. So there is no scope to compare the economy of Bangladesh with Sri Lanka. But it is not that Bangladesh economy will not face challenges.
Taking the depreciation of taka, inflation and price hike of commodities in the international market due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the pressure of rising living cost will ultimately fall on the people of Bangladesh. Basically the challenges of Bangladesh are different than Sri Lanka.
Responding to a question, Haas said there will be opportunities for other countries to join in the recently launched Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
There have been consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March regarding the IPEF and the ambassador hoped that Bangladesh will follow it closely.
President Biden launched the IPEF with Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Together, they represent 40% of world GDP.
DCAB president Rezaul Karim Lotus moderated the discussion while organisation’s general secretary AKM Moinuddin gave the welcome address.
