14-Party Alliance: New US visa policy sparks friction

Partners of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance were divided over the new US visa policy yesterday as left-leaning parties at a meeting welcomed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's firm stance.

They said Bangladesh should not bow to US pressure and all should thank Hasina for her stance.

The AL and other partners of the alliance, however, opined that the government should resolve the issue diplomatically. They considered the PM's stance tactical with an aim to boost the morale of her party leaders and activists, sources said. 

These views came up at the meeting of the allies with 14-party coordinator and AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu in the chair at his Eskaton home yesterday afternoon.

According to meeting insiders, Amu, at the beginning, said only the proposed budget and the new US visa policy were on the agenda.

Some leaders of the alliance said they want to talk about the current power supply situation and price-hike of essentials.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on May 24 announced a new visa policy for Bangladesh. He said the US will deny visas to people believed to be responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.

AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua, Jatiya Party (JP) General Secretary Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Bangladesh Tariqat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari, Communist Kendro Convener Wazedul Islam and Ganatantri Party General Secretary Shahadat Hossain spoke at the meeting.

Hanif told the meeting that Hasina's response to the new US visa policy was strategic and that the government was working to resolve this diplomatically.

Leaders of left-leaning parties, Dilip Barua, Wazedul Islam, and Shahadat Hossain, welcomed Hasina's response and said Bangladesh should not give into US pressure.

They said Hasina did the right thing.

The premier on Saturday said there is no point in fretting over who will not give visas or who will impose sanctions.

Dilip said China came up with good offers for Bangladesh and the government should consider those.

Menon said the new US visa policy was an ominous sign for Bangladesh and the government should not take it lightly.

Responding to the left-leaning leaders, Amu said they should think twice before making such statements and asked them what would happen if the US imposed a ban on the country's garment products, said meeting sources.

Maizbhandari said the government should take the issue seriously and Australia, Canada, the UK, countries in the European Union, and Japan may follow suit.

He also said the policy was not introduced to bring the BNP to power but to remove Hasina and the AL government, sources said.

The leaders also criticised the current power supply situation and price-hike of essentials and said both would have adverse impacts on the alliance in the general elections.

They were also critical of the government's proposal to levy a minimum income tax of Tk 2,000 even on those without taxable income and the 15 percent VAT on ballpoint pens.

The alliance leaders came down heavily on Foreign Minister Abdul Momen and State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid for "their irresponsible statements", meeting insiders said.

Menon expressed disappointment over the AL delaying the process of seat sharing with partners.

He said the AL has started its election campaign and but the partners are in the dark about their next course of action.

He demanded an immediate meeting with the AL chief to solve the issue.

Talking to reporters afterwards, Amu termed the US visa policy ill-motivated and unwarranted.

He said they think people who want to foil the election might use the policy as a tool.

Replying to a query about AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader's comment that there is no reason for the government to be unhappy about the US visa policy, Amu said the meeting was of the 14-party alliance, not the Awami League's.

"The 14-party alliance will say what it feels… We will say whatever comes up in the discussion… we are not a rubber stamp. It is not our headache what an individual party is saying or thinking," Amu said.