US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has said there is nothing to be worried over new US visa policy.
"This new policy has been introduced to encourage the next general election in Bangladesh free, fair and participatory," he said while talking to journalists after attending a photography exhibition organised on the occasion of the 50th anniversary Bangladesh-US bilateral relations at EMK Centre in the capital on Tuesday (May 30).
Ambassador Peter Haas said, "The prime minister of Bangladesh has expressed her commitment for a free and fair election in Bangladesh and the US visa policy supports her commitment. It is for the people of Bangladesh."
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Awami League leader Shammi Ahmed, among others, were present.
On May 24, the US announced a new visa policy to support Bangladesh's goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections, restricting visas to any Bangladeshi individual who would undermine the democratic election process. Under this policy, the United States will be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services.
