Diplomacy
Uzra Zeya's visit

Democracy, human rights to top agenda

Uzra Zeya

Uzra Zeya, the US under secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, arrives today on a four-day visit -- at a delicate time when the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP are at loggerheads over the election-time government.

BNP is adamant about reinstating the practice of caretaker government, which was abolished in 2011, to manage the transition from one elected government to another and hold the polls.

But the AL is insistent that its government would be conducting the polls as in 2014 and 2018.

Washington has been critical of the elections in 2014 and 2018 for alleged irregularities and did not invite Bangladesh to its Summit for Democracy for two years in a row.

With the view to ensuring that the 2024 general elections are free and fair, the US on May 24 announced a visa policy for Bangladesh restricting visas for those who will be involved in vote rigging and intimidation.

Zeya, who would be arriving from India, will be accompanied by Donald Lu, the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, and Anjali Kaur, the deputy assistant administrator of the USAID Asia bureau.

The delegation is likely to hold meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen. She will also engage with civil society organisations.

"I think Uzra Zeya would focus on the next elections, and may ask if there is any solution to the stalemate," said M Humayun Kabir, president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

She might also discuss freedom of expression, political and civilian rights, an amendment to the Digital Security Act and labour rights.

"We should find a solution for our own sake, for our constitutional mandate to democracy and human rights -- instead of depending on others. Bangladesh can have better deals with other countries when it has democracy."

But relations can worsen with democratic backsliding, said Kabir, a former ambassador.

The erosion of democracy, the lack of transparency and the rule of law limit the US's ability to cooperate with any country, including trade and investment, said Derek Chollet, the US State Department counsellor, during his visit to Dhaka in February.

The US is Bangladesh's single-largest export destination, with annual exports of about $11 billion, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

It is also Bangladesh's largest foreign direct investor, with a total investment of about $4.3 billion. It was also the largest donor of Covid vaccines.

But labour rights have been a sore point in bilateral relations.

Following the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, the US suspended the Generalised System of Preferences facility in Bangladesh, and it is yet to be restored.

Washington continues to raise concerns over the lack of fair labour practices, barriers to freedom to associate, the minimum wage and discrimination in EPZ Labour Act and Labour Act.

Presently, the export processing zones (EPZ) are governed by the EPZ Labour Act and not the Bangladesh Labour Act. The EPZ Labour Act does not allow trade unions.

Though Bangladesh has made much progress in the aspect of labour safety since Rana Plaza, the recent murder of union leader Shahidul Islam in Gazipur has triggered new questions.

Because of concerns about labour rights violations, Bangladesh cannot avail funds from the International Development Finance Corporation, the US government agency that invests in development projects primarily in lower and middle-income countries, said Isobel Coleman, the USAID's deputy administrator, during her visit last year.

The US considers Bangladesh a more important country now than before because of its economic progress and geostrategic location in the Indo-Pacific, which is a region of great power competition, according to foreign policy analysts.

"Washington does not want Dhaka to tilt towards China," said a foreign policy analyst preferring not to be named.

If Bangladesh can fix its challenges with democracy, human rights and good governance, it can have a strong economy and better balance in the diplomatic relations with other countries, he added.

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Uzra Zeya's visit

Democracy, human rights to top agenda

Uzra Zeya

Uzra Zeya, the US under secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, arrives today on a four-day visit -- at a delicate time when the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP are at loggerheads over the election-time government.

BNP is adamant about reinstating the practice of caretaker government, which was abolished in 2011, to manage the transition from one elected government to another and hold the polls.

But the AL is insistent that its government would be conducting the polls as in 2014 and 2018.

Washington has been critical of the elections in 2014 and 2018 for alleged irregularities and did not invite Bangladesh to its Summit for Democracy for two years in a row.

With the view to ensuring that the 2024 general elections are free and fair, the US on May 24 announced a visa policy for Bangladesh restricting visas for those who will be involved in vote rigging and intimidation.

Zeya, who would be arriving from India, will be accompanied by Donald Lu, the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, and Anjali Kaur, the deputy assistant administrator of the USAID Asia bureau.

The delegation is likely to hold meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen. She will also engage with civil society organisations.

"I think Uzra Zeya would focus on the next elections, and may ask if there is any solution to the stalemate," said M Humayun Kabir, president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

She might also discuss freedom of expression, political and civilian rights, an amendment to the Digital Security Act and labour rights.

"We should find a solution for our own sake, for our constitutional mandate to democracy and human rights -- instead of depending on others. Bangladesh can have better deals with other countries when it has democracy."

But relations can worsen with democratic backsliding, said Kabir, a former ambassador.

The erosion of democracy, the lack of transparency and the rule of law limit the US's ability to cooperate with any country, including trade and investment, said Derek Chollet, the US State Department counsellor, during his visit to Dhaka in February.

The US is Bangladesh's single-largest export destination, with annual exports of about $11 billion, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

It is also Bangladesh's largest foreign direct investor, with a total investment of about $4.3 billion. It was also the largest donor of Covid vaccines.

But labour rights have been a sore point in bilateral relations.

Following the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, the US suspended the Generalised System of Preferences facility in Bangladesh, and it is yet to be restored.

Washington continues to raise concerns over the lack of fair labour practices, barriers to freedom to associate, the minimum wage and discrimination in EPZ Labour Act and Labour Act.

Presently, the export processing zones (EPZ) are governed by the EPZ Labour Act and not the Bangladesh Labour Act. The EPZ Labour Act does not allow trade unions.

Though Bangladesh has made much progress in the aspect of labour safety since Rana Plaza, the recent murder of union leader Shahidul Islam in Gazipur has triggered new questions.

Because of concerns about labour rights violations, Bangladesh cannot avail funds from the International Development Finance Corporation, the US government agency that invests in development projects primarily in lower and middle-income countries, said Isobel Coleman, the USAID's deputy administrator, during her visit last year.

The US considers Bangladesh a more important country now than before because of its economic progress and geostrategic location in the Indo-Pacific, which is a region of great power competition, according to foreign policy analysts.

"Washington does not want Dhaka to tilt towards China," said a foreign policy analyst preferring not to be named.

If Bangladesh can fix its challenges with democracy, human rights and good governance, it can have a strong economy and better balance in the diplomatic relations with other countries, he added.

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