Bangladesh’s interim government’s chief advisor, Muhammad Yunus, is facing criticism from the United States. The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has criticized the ban imposed on the Awami League. The US has expressed concern over political freedom and human rights violations in Bangladesh.
Mohammad Yunus Faces US Displeasure Amid Political Turmoil
Washington: Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, is now facing US displeasure. The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has written to him, criticizing the complete ban imposed on the Awami League. The committee expressed serious concerns about the rule of law and the political climate in Bangladesh.
US lawmakers wrote in the letter that a complete ban on a political party is detrimental to democracy. They pointed out that the 2018 and 2024 general elections were not fair, and according to a UN Human Rights Office report, approximately 1400 people were killed during the violence in 2024. Despite this, the action against the Awami League is considered illegal and unjust.
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The US also expressed concern over human rights violations in Bangladesh. They wrote that the interim government should work with political parties to hold fair and peaceful elections. However, the government has suppressed political activities and reinstated the International Crimes Tribunal. These steps have been deemed detrimental to democracy by the US.
A few months ago, Bangladesh's interim government banned all activities of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party. This included the party's activities on online platforms. Following the US letter, there is a possibility that the Awami League may receive some relief in the future. This could affect the political balance and the electoral environment.
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The growing tension between Bangladesh's interim government and the US concerns could impact diplomatic and political relations between the two countries. The sanctions imposed on the Awami League and the resulting US displeasure will also bring the democratic process and the position of the opposition in Bangladesh into sharper focus.
US criticism and the sanctions imposed on the Awami League have made Bangladeshi politics challenging from an international perspective. A political balance could be achieved if the Awami League receives some relief; otherwise, tensions between the interim government and the opposition in Bangladesh could escalate.
