U.S. Department of State
Office of the Secretary
2201 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
August 21, 2023
Dear Honorable Secretary Blinken,
The Coalition for Human Rights & Democracy in Bangladesh (CHRD Bangladesh) would like to take this opportunity once again to express its deep gratitude to the administration of President Joe Biden, and to you in particular, for taking great interests in ensuring a free, fair and participatory election leading to a democratic good governance in Bangladesh. In all its sincerity, the US imposed sanctions, visa restrictions and other restrictive measures towards ensuring compliance to international standards of human rights, democracy, and political freedom, particularly for the opposition parties, which are hard hit under the repressive regime of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since 2009.
CHRD Bangladesh considers that the recent visit of Richard Nephew, the State Department’s Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption to Dhaka is a landmark step in combating corruption, particularly in money laundering, for the corruption laden country. According to the Washington-based Global Financial Integrity (DFI), $8.27 billion is siphoned out of the country annually through illicit trade, which includes money laundering. (https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/bangladesh-loses-827-annually-over-trade-mis-invoicing-gfi-report-2919786).
The US is one of the favored destinations of such illegal money transfers. Multiple sources alleged the connection of the ruling family in the large-scale banking heists and illegal flights of capitals. CHRD Bangladesh sincerely hopes that the criminals of these high-end money laundering schemes in the United States will be duly brought to justice as per the laws of the two countries.
Mr. Secretary, the Sheikh Hasina government continues to remain defiant and conducts repressive pursuits, at times brutal, on the opposition political activities, which have largely been peaceful. Above all, it is bent on replaying the same fraudulent election drama as it did in 2014 and 2018, citing the self-designed “constitutional provision.” As the national poll is nearing in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina intensified her undemocratic activities and repression on the opposition, which continues to campaign for a free, fair and participatory election under a neutral authority.
On August 19, 2023, the Bangladesh police force ruthlessly attacked the peaceful walkathon rallies of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at a number of places in the country where more than two hundred people received bullet injuries. Hundreds were arrested and thousands faced false cases. The police conducted similar attacks around the country on the mourners during the absentee funerals for the late Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, also arresting many and filing false cases against hundreds. Sayeedi, a respected and popular Islamic leader, died in custody under mysterious circumstances.
CHRD Bangladesh urges the US State Department to kindly adopt additional effective measures to ensure a peaceful political atmosphere, including the imposition of stricter and wide-ranging sanctions and restrictions on the violators of legitimate political activities in the country as it is heading for an all-important national election in a few months.
The Sheikh Hasina administration cannot be trusted to hold a credible election, nor good governance in Bangladesh.
CHRD Bangladesh continues to insist that in order to ensure a free, fair and participatory election, it must be held under a neutral, nonpartisan administration, for which the entire opposition is campaigning, including a resolve not to participate in any polls under the authoritarian and corrupt government.
Sincerely,
The Coalition for Human Rights & Democracy in Bangladesh