BNP 'watches' Donald Lu's visit, 'doubts' about meeting

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu. He is visiting Bangladesh on Saturday (January 14). Various discussions are going on around his visit. According to the itinerary, Lu will discuss bilateral relations with the Bangladesh government. He will also hold meetings with prominent citizens and civil society representatives of Bangladesh during the two-day visit. However, the issue of democracy and human rights is the most discussed around his visit.

Apart from that, what will be the role of the United States in the upcoming national elections of Bangladesh is also being analyzed. Important issues like strengthening economic relations, labor, energy, trade, security cooperation, restoration of GSP will also be emphasized during the visit. There may also be a discussion on the issue of sanctions against the officials of Bangladesh's law and order forces, including RAB. However, various rumors are also spreading in unsupported sources.

 They (US) talk and work on the human rights situation around the world. The human rights situation in Bangladesh is at the edge of the abyss today. There is no freedom of expression. Big political leaders and activists of the country are being oppressed. No one can speak freely. Disenfranchisement has been taken away. Day voting is held at night. BNP should hold a meeting with the US official and highlight these issues. They should seek their cooperation to improve the country's democracy and human rights situation 

As the government is busy with Donald Lu's visit, the country's opposition parties are also keeping a watchful eye. BNPO is not sitting in such a situation. Top leaders of the party are taking Donald Lu's visit seriously. And there are rumors among Trinamool activists that Donald Lu may urge the government not to harass opposition political party leaders in Bangladesh. As a result, a lot of enthusiasm has spread among them. Many grassroots leaders of the party are also giving such status on social media. The expectation of BNP leaders and activists in these statuses is that the political crisis of Bangladesh will be solved to some extent through the visit of the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States.

Even though various rumors were spread among the leaders of BNP Trinamool, the central leaders of the party could not confirm whether a delegation of BNP will meet with Donald Lu or not. The top leaders of the party are avoiding the matter as 'bilateral meeting' with the government. However, BNP is in contact with the officials of the US Embassy in Dhaka. Either way, BNP International Affairs Committee leaders are quick to arrange a meeting with Donald Lu. However, there is doubt in BNP whether BNP will meet with Lu in the end or not.

However, BNP's grassroots leaders and activists feel that BNP, as a major political party in the country, should be active for a meeting with Donald Lu. It is very important to inform the Assistant Secretary of State of the US about the harassment-torture-oppression of the leaders and activists of opposition political parties including BNP.