Right to Freedom welcomes the U.S. Department of State’s announcement of a new visa policy to promote democratic elections in Bangladesh. We endorse efforts such as those announced today by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to support those seeking to advance democracy and hold free and fair elections in Bangladesh. Along with many friends of Bangladesh we have watched with growing concern as the incumbent government in Dhaka has restricted freedom of expression and stifled efforts by political opponents to participate in the democratic process. In the coming weeks and months, it will be important for the United States and like-minded partners to demonstrate that they are willing to take concrete steps to avoid a repetition of the past two deeply flawed election cycles in Bangladesh. Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction. Right to Freedom looks forward to organizing an event in the coming weeks to discuss further the implications of this new U.S. policy.