There is growing unrest in Bangladesh—a country with an estimated population of 167 million people. Having been born and raised in Bangladesh, I am quite knowledgeable about the political landscape of this South Asian country, and I want to draw people’s attention to the need for security of U.S. Embassy officials there.
The safety and security of Americans are of the utmost importance. Given the rise in political tension in Bangladesh, it is time to increase security measures for U.S. Embassy officials in the country’s capital city of Dhaka.
As an immigrant and a U.S. citizen, I am proud to see America’s efforts to promote free and fair elections in Bangladesh. The United States has implemented visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in that country. This includes members of law enforcement, the ruling party, the political opposition, as well as the judiciary.
Our efforts to promote democracy sometimes result in heightened risks for Americans abroad. In a recent interview with a Bangladeshi television station, Ambassador Peter Haas expressed that he is concerned about his own security as well as the security of his embassy staff.
The American government must ensure the highest levels of protection for U.S. diplomats all over the world. Given the rising political tension in Bangladesh, I believe that security measures for U.S. Embassy officials must be increased significantly.