Although this new US visa policy is proving expedient, it would not be wise to believe that the country is intent on fostering democracy in Bangladesh.
Although their reasons are different, both the Awami League and BNP welcoming the new US visa policy is quite embarrassing for Bangladesh because, after all, it is the political parties that are responsible for this humiliating measure through their undemocratic behaviour and tendency to disrupt free and fair election processes.
Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific Outlook: On April 24, 2023, Bangladesh formally announced its “Indo-Pacific Outlook” (IPO) to the world. Together with almost all other Indo-Pacific foreign policy doctrines of the US, UK, Japan, Australia, India, and other developed nations, Bangladesh now openly shares a “vision” of “a free, open, peaceful, secure, and inclusive Indo-Pacific for the
However, growing global scrutiny and an upcoming visit to the U.S. could be forcing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to go slow on cracking down on the media.