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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1215 Introduced in House (IH)]

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, scheduled 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
Whereas Bangladesh's long-term political stability and economic progress are 
        critical to the security of the South Asian region: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its strong support for the people of 
        Bangladesh;
            (2) encourages the strengthening and consolidation of 
        democracy in Bangladesh one year after the election;
            (3) urges the Government of Bangladesh to work together 
        with all political leaders to continue and deepen 
        reconciliation;
            (4) appreciates the Government of Bangladesh for making 
        progress in meeting the selection criteria of the Millennium 
        Challenge Corporation;
            (5) urges the Government of Bangladesh to protect the 
        rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh, 
        including the Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Ahmadis, and non-
        Muslim tribal peoples;
            (6) urges the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh to 
        continue its efforts to eradicate corruption;
            (7) urges the President to coordinate with Bangladesh on 
        matters pertaining to security, economic progress, and human 
        rights in South Asia; and
            (8) encourages the Secretary of State and the Administrator 
        of the U.S. Agency for International Development to commit 
        increased resources in supporting the building of a strong 
        civil society and eradicating poverty in Bangladesh.
                                 <all>
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