Talks With Us Delegates: Polls, labour rights may figure high

The high-level US delegation visit, slated for July 11-14, may feature discussions on the upcoming election, human rights, labour, Rohingya and trade issues, according to foreign ministry officials.

Uzra Zeya, under secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights, will lead the delegation that also includes Donald Lu, US assistant secretary for South and Central Asia Bureau, and Anjali Kaur, USAID deputy assistant administrator.

At a press briefing at the foreign ministry yesterday, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said, “I have no such knowledge that the delegation’s visit will be specifically to discuss election related issues. It [the visit] is a continuation of our engagement with the US, and election may be one of the issues to be discussed, along with those of human rights, labour, Rohingyas and trade.”

He said the relationship between the US and Bangladesh has many different aspects. “We will discuss many issues. I am not ruling out the election. That may also come up.”

Diplomatic sources said the next general election and labour rights issues may figure prominently in the discussions during the visit.

The issue of the election is considered crucial, especially after the US on May 24 announced a policy that said it won’t issue visas to the Bangladeshis found complicit in vote rigging or intimidation in the election process.

Earlier in 2021, the US imposed sanctions on Rab and a few of its senior officials and also did not invite Bangladesh to President Biden’s democracy summits in 2021 and 2023.

The US has long been critical of the 2014 and 2018 elections on account of alleged vote rigging.

Suspending GSP facilities for Bangladesh after the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, Washington has also been critical of the labour rights issues, including union rights, living wage and more.

A foreign ministry official said Bangladesh may request Uzra Zeya to withdraw sanctions on Rab and its officials. Earlier this year, the US said Rab made progress in terms of curbing extrajudicial killings, especially since the sanctions were imposed.

A diplomatic source said that while Bangladesh has been making progress under various initiatives since the Rana Plaza, the recent murder of trade union leader Shahidul Islam has complicated things, and so the issue of may come up during the delegation’s visit.

On Wednesday, US Ambassador Peter Haas visited the headquarters of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation and called on the Bangladesh authorities to investigate the murder thoroughly and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Rafiqul Islam, acting director of the foreign ministry’s publicity wing, at a regular media briefing yesterday, said European Union Human Rights Affairs’ Special Representative Eamon Gilmore will also visit Bangladesh later this month.

GBDESK//