report in The Daily Sta, Aug 13, 2023
Two US Congressmen — Rich McCormick and Ed Case — will be holding meetings with major political parties today in Dhaka, including the ruling Awami League, the opposition BNP, and the Jatiya Party.
Republican Congressman Richard McCormick from Georgia’s 6th Congressional District arrived yesterday, while Democrat Ed Case, who represents Hawaii’s First Congressional District, is scheduled to arrive early today.
They will hold meetings with politicians today and also call on Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the ministry, a politician who is invited to the meeting told The Daily Star.
A US embassy official said this is not a state visit, so the embassy is not engaged with the activities of the two Congressmen.
Tomorrow, they are scheduled to visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.
The visit is being considered significant ahead of the country’s general elections, as Washington has already put considerable pressure on Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections due late this year or early next year.
On May 24, the US announced a visa policy for Bangladesh, saying it would not issue visas to those who undermine the democratic election process.
As things stand, there is a stalemate over election-time government, with the AL wanting polls under the current regime and the opposition calling for an interim government.
Awami League lawmaker Nahim Razzaq said, “It’s good that the US Congressmen are coming to Bangladesh. This will help them better understand Bangladesh’s situation and improve bilateral relations.”
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Omen said the main purpose of the visit of the US Congressmen is to visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar as the US is the largest donor to the refugees. “The Congressmen will see how their taxpayers’ money is being spent.”
“It will be good if they provide humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas because their monthly food ration has recently been cut down to $8 from $12,” he told this correspondent.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/2-us-congressmen-sit-political-parties-today-3392791
