WASHINGTON/DHAKA, 2 June 2007 — The United States urged Bangladesh on Thursday to make sure those arrested in an anti-corruption drive have access to lawyers and receive due process. “We want to see anti-corruption and anti-crime efforts carried out in a manner that is fair and impartial to political interests,” the State Department said in a statement.
Security forces arrested six former government ministers, two mayors, two top businessmen and a top forestry official in raids this week.
More than 170 politicians, businessmen and former bureaucrats have been detained as corruption suspects since the interim government took over in January under emergency rule.
When asked in Dhaka whether the State Department viewed the campaign as politically motivated, a US Embassy spokesman said, “Combating corruption has been a longstanding priority of the United States government.” The US has consistently said that the anti-corruption campaign must be conducted in accordance with the rule of law and international standards of human rights.
“Anyone detained should be charged or released, receive full due process in accordance with Bangladeshi law and international standards, and have access to a lawyer,” the statement said.
On election in Bangladesh, it said “We believe that a timetable outlining the steps needed to create the conditions necessary for free, fair, non-violent, and transparent elections restoring fully democratic, civilian government should be announced as soon as possible.”
It said, “We want to see Bangladeshi officials and political leaders make decisions and take actions based on what best promotes stability, political reform, and a return to an elected, democratic government.” Most of graft suspects, arrested in Dhaka, have complained that they are now denied easy access to lawyers under the provisions of stringent emergency rules.
