What US state dept says regarding visa curbs

The United States has said the purpose of visa restrictions was not to take a side in an election in Bangladesh, but to ensure or to support free, fair, and peaceful polls.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said regarding the visa policy, "They include both members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition."

At the press briefing, a journalist mentioned the BNP chairperson, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, and that the opposition party gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to release and allow her to go abroad for advanced medical treatment.

When asked for his stance on the matter of releasing the former prime minister, Miller said, "I just don’t have any comment on that."

Another journalist asked whether the sanction, if applied to media, would undermine the US call for a stand for human rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. In reply, Miller reiterated his previous comment.

"We have not announced the specific members or the specific individuals to which this will apply, but made clear that they will apply to members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition," Miller said.

/KN/