The letter of five congressmen urging the election with Awami League. Yunus

Hakikul Islam Khokan

In the letter written by five US Congressmen to the Chief Adviser, several political parties including the Awami League are banned and the fact of keeping these parties out of the election is indicated that it is not helpful for the much-anticipated election and democracy. "We hope that your government or the next elected government will reconsider this decision," the letter, dated December 23, 2023, said. Congressmen Gregory W. Meeks, Bill Huizenga and Sidney Kamlager-Dove, Congressmen Julie Johnson and Tom R. Suozi from both parties (Republican and Democratic Party) signed the letter to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus calling for free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh by ensuring the participation of all political parties. Among them, Gregory Meeks is the senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Huizenga and Malagar-Dove are the chairman and member of the subcommittee on South and Central Asian Affairs, respectively. The letter has also been published on the website of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Khabar Ibn News.

They expressed concern over 'banning' a political party before elections, writing that banning a political party could disenfranchise a large section of the electorate.

Without naming any political party or organization in the letter, these legislators said that although they support the role of the interim government administration during the national crisis in Bangladesh, the exclusion of a major political party is not compatible with the principle of basic human rights and responsibility for individual crimes. "We hope that your government or the next elected government will reconsider this decision," the letter said.This call to the US congressmen to organize the next February elections based on the participation of all parties has been made at a time when the activities of the Awami League are banned due to allegations of terrorist acts including killings while suppressing the 24 coup. Later, the Election Commission also suspended the registration of Awami League as a political party. In this, the opportunity of participating in the elections was closed for one of the oldest parties in the country. Its student body Chhatra League has also been banned on similar charges.

A case of crimes against humanity has also been filed against the Awami League in July-August 2024 to prevent the movement of the students. A case has been filed against party chief and ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former ministers, members of parliament and activists for dozens of murders. Sheikh Hasina and her government's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal have been sentenced to death in the case of anti-humanity charges in the International Criminal Tribunal.

After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government, the twelfth parliament elected in January 2024 was dissolved. An interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus took over. Two years after the previous election

Thirteenth Parliament election is going to be held on February 2. The congressmen's letter to the chief adviser cites a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released in February on the 24 movement, citing the killing of 1,400 people by security forces. Calling for an impartial investigation to find out who is really involved in those killings or what kind of shooting casualties, the letter says, real accountability for these activities and other incidents should reflect the values ​​of democracy in Bangladesh; Not maintaining the continuity of revenge.

They wrote in the letter highlighting that the 2018 and 2024 general elections in Bangladesh were not free and fair due to non-inclusiveness, freedom of association as well as the principle of individual and not collective criminal responsibility is a fundamental human right."We are concerned that the decision to completely suspend the activities of a political party in lieu of actual criminals or specific individuals involved in serious human rights violations through due process of law is inconsistent with these principles."

In the letter, the congressmen said that it is very important to create an environment suitable for organizing elections to give people the opportunity to express their opinions peacefully through the ballot. Similarly, reforms are needed to restore trust in state institutions through honesty, transparency and non-partisan governance.

They warned that suspending the activities of political parties or reopening the "flawed" International Criminal Tribunal could undermine these goals.

In the letter, the congressmen asserted that the people of Bangladesh have the right to choose their leadership through a competitive election in which all political parties can participate.

Incidentally: It should be noted that in Bangladesh, the leaders-workers-supporters of Awami League were publicly beaten to death, their corpses were hanged on trees amidst joy, the houses of religious minorities and the houses and businesses of Awami League leaders and workers were bulldozed after looting and many houses were burnt down for the past 15 months. With the help of the rulers, such brutality-violence is going on in front of the police-administration. The army is also being allowed to remain silent. As a result, Bangladesh has become a militant-A terrorist sanctuary. No one has the courage to publish the information of these terrible incidents in the media of Bangladesh. But social media is showing it, and US lawmakers are watching it in amazement. This was revealed in the letter of the top officials of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Congress.