Sunday, March 28, 2010 | Front Page
Govt urged to work with all partiesUS House of Representatives passes resolution
Unb, Washington
In a resolution passed on Thursday, the US House of Representatives urged the Bangladesh government to work together with all political leaders to continue and deepen reconciliation.
Congressman Joseph Crowley, the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bangladesh, spearheaded passage of the resolution expressing the US House of Representatives’ support for Bangladesh’s return to democracy.
“Bangladesh has become an important partner of the United States. Even as it faces challenges with serious poverty, threats from climate change and extremism, the Bangladeshi people have shown remarkable resilience, creativity and principle,” Crowley said at the US House of Representatives.
Sponsoring the resolution in the House to congratulate Bangladesh on achieving democracy, he said, “This is exactly the kind of country the United States ought to work with and do more to support, not because the situation on the ground is perfect, but because by working together we have clearly created a better path forward.”
“I hope the international community will more quickly wake up to the positive changes Bangladesh has made,” Crowley added.
The resolution was passed by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 380 to 7.
“I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1215, a measure to honour Bangladesh’s return to democracy. I would like to thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their support of this resolution. I would also like to thank the gentleman from California, Congressman Royce, for leading this effort with me, along with other members of the House Caucus on Bangladesh,” Crowley said.
The resolution also urged the Bangladesh government to ensure the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, including Hindus and the Ahmadiya community.
It said Bangladesh is “making progress” to join the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US aid programme that has granted billions of dollars to nations deemed as respecting political and economic freedom.
Crowley noted that a year and a half ago, the US Congress passed a resolution out of fear that Bangladesh was “creeping toward authoritarianism” after the military took charge in 2006 and cancelled elections.
Congressman Joseph Crowley, the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bangladesh, spearheaded passage of the resolution expressing the US House of Representatives’ support for Bangladesh’s return to democracy.
“Bangladesh has become an important partner of the United States. Even as it faces challenges with serious poverty, threats from climate change and extremism, the Bangladeshi people have shown remarkable resilience, creativity and principle,” Crowley said at the US House of Representatives.
Sponsoring the resolution in the House to congratulate Bangladesh on achieving democracy, he said, “This is exactly the kind of country the United States ought to work with and do more to support, not because the situation on the ground is perfect, but because by working together we have clearly created a better path forward.”
“I hope the international community will more quickly wake up to the positive changes Bangladesh has made,” Crowley added.
The resolution was passed by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 380 to 7.
“I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1215, a measure to honour Bangladesh’s return to democracy. I would like to thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their support of this resolution. I would also like to thank the gentleman from California, Congressman Royce, for leading this effort with me, along with other members of the House Caucus on Bangladesh,” Crowley said.
The resolution also urged the Bangladesh government to ensure the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, including Hindus and the Ahmadiya community.
It said Bangladesh is “making progress” to join the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US aid programme that has granted billions of dollars to nations deemed as respecting political and economic freedom.
Crowley noted that a year and a half ago, the US Congress passed a resolution out of fear that Bangladesh was “creeping toward authoritarianism” after the military took charge in 2006 and cancelled elections.
URL: www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=131886
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