New visa policy to help electoral process in Bangladesh: Peter Haas

US Ambassador to Dhaka Peter De Haas said the new visa policy of the United States has been announced to help the democratic electoral process of Bangladesh.

The US ambassador made the comment after a courtesy meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking to reporters after an hourlong meeting with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the ministry, Haas said, “It was a pre-arranged meeting, which is part of our regular meetings. The excellent relations prevailing between the two countries were discussed in the meeting. Apart from this, we also discussed the new visa policy announced by the United States recently.” 

“We support free and fair elections. The new visa policy to restrict visas to those who undermine the democratic process applies to everyone,” the US Embassy in Dhaka tweeted on Thursday.

"This is something we have done in support of Bangladeshi people, and the Bangladeshi Governments', the Prime Minister herself, and everyone here in Bangladesh who are called for free and fair elections," Haas said.

"The recent announcement from yesterday was merely our way of helping to support that the democratic electoral process (in Bangladesh)," he added.

US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken on Wednesday announced the new US visa policy to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.