US visa curbs will help amp up movement

BNP leaders believe the US decision to implement its visa policy will create a more favourable climate for their campaign to force  the government to step down before the election.

Top leaders of the political party are of the opinion that the US decision will smoothen the path towards a non-partisan polls-time government.

As the party plans to step up its demonstrations from October 5, the leadership feels that the visa restrictions vindicate their stance that a free and fair election, needed to save the country, is not possible with the Awami League in power.

The 2014 and 2018 elections held under the AL government were widely criticised at home and abroad due to numerous allegations of irregularities.

"The US sanction is helping boost the democracy-loving people's morale to bring changes to the country."

The US State Department maintains that it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals, including those in the political opposition, who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. But BNP leaders say that it is the ruling party that will be affected by the restrictions.

BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan recently said, "The US visa policy indicates that various organs of the government are indulging in irregularities that will ensure that the ruling party rigs the election by hook or by crook."

About the mention of "political opposition" by the state department, Moyeen lightheartedly said this was the most obvious and logical diplomatically balanced jargon used by the US Department of State.

"Everyone knows who the real violators are."

After BNP's sit-in programmes at the entry points to Dhaka on July 29 turned out to be a failure, the party was struggling to revamp its anti-government movement.

BNP leaders say the visa restrictions have made the ruling party activists, law enforcers, and civil administration officials anxious and created the context for the BNP to intensify the movement.

"The pre-election observation team of the US will visit Bangladesh. So, programmes will be chalked out considering their attitudes too," said a senior leader.

Besides, the demonstrations will pause during the Puja festivals later this month.

The European Union recently said it will not send a fully-fledged election observation mission during the upcoming national polls.

Referring to the July 28 rally in Dhaka, party leaders said the programme gained momentum because of the announcement of the visa policy, and the same thing can happen this time around as the US government has started implementing the restrictions.