IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1215 

Expressing support for Bangladesh’s return to democracy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 24, 2010 

Mr. CROWLEY (for himself and Mr. ROYCE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for Bangladesh’s return to democracy. 

Whereas March 26 is the anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence; 

Whereas the Constitution of Bangladesh, ratified in 1972 following a war of independence, established a democracy 

ruled by and for the people of Bangladesh; 

Whereas Bangladesh has a population of approximately 

160,000,000 people, is the world’s fourth most populated 

Muslim country, and is a stable, moderate, democratic 

Muslim nation; 

Whereas before elections in December 2008, Bangladesh held 

what the international community viewed as three free 

and fair elections in 1991, 1996, and 2001, respectively; 

Whereas in October 2006, power was handed over to a caretaker government before the January 22, 2007, schedVerDate Nov 24 2008 22:08 Mar 24, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1215.IH HR1215

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•HRES 1215 IH 

uled election and the caretaker government subsequently 

imposed a state of emergency on January 11, 2007; 

Whereas the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution in September 2008 calling for the return of democracy in Bangladesh; 

Whereas the caretaker government of Bangladesh returned 

the country to democracy through an election held on December 29, 2008; 

Whereas the December 29, 2008, election was monitored by 

numerous international election observers that declared 

the election credible; 

Whereas the U.S. State Department welcomed ‘‘the success 

of Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections’’ and congratulated the ‘‘Bangladesh Election Commission and the 

thousands of government officials involved in organizing 

this successful election’’; 

Whereas the Awami League, led by former Prime Minister 

Sheikh Hasina Wajed, won over two-thirds of the 300 

seats in Parliament and formed a new government in 

January 2009; 

Whereas President Barack Obama awarded Muhammad 

Yunus the Presidential Medal of Freedom in August 

2009; 

Whereas the U.S. Agency for International Development reports that 49 percent of Bangladeshis live below the poverty line; 

Whereas Bangladesh’s economy grew at an estimated rate of 

5.7 percent in 2009; 

Whereas the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh has 

commenced serious efforts to address corruption; and 


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•HRES 1215 IH 

Whereas Bangladesh’s long-term political stability and economic progress are critical to the security of the South 

Asian region: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its strong support for the people 

3 of Bangladesh; 

4 (2) encourages the strengthening and consolida5 tion of democracy in Bangladesh one year after the 

6 election; 

7 (3) urges the Government of Bangladesh to 

8 work together with all political leaders to continue 

9 and deepen reconciliation; 

10 (4) appreciates the Government of Bangladesh 

11 for making progress in meeting the selection criteria 

12 of the Millennium Challenge Corporation; 

13 (5) urges the Government of Bangladesh to 

14 protect the rights of religious and ethnic minorities 

15 in Bangladesh, including the Hindus, Christians, 

16 Buddhists, Ahmadis, and non-Muslim tribal peoples; 

17 (6) urges the Anti-Corruption Commission in 

18 Bangladesh to continue its efforts to eradicate cor19 ruption; 

20 (7) urges the President to coordinate with Ban21 gladesh on matters pertaining to security, economic 

22 progress, and human rights in South Asia; and 


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•HRES 1215 IH 

1 (8) encourages the Secretary of State and the 

2 Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International 

3 Development to commit increased resources in sup4 porting the building of a strong civil society and 

5 eradicating poverty in Bangladesh. 

Æ 


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