```

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1169 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1169

Reaffirming the commitment of the United States to promote free, fair, 
           transparent and credible elections in Bangladesh.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 6, 2018

Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Engel, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Chabot, 
    and Mr. Connolly) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Reaffirming the commitment of the United States to promote free, fair, 
           transparent and credible elections in Bangladesh.

Whereas Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 and established a secular 
        democratic state, which is home to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, 
        Christians, and atheists;
Whereas Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country with nearly 160,000,000 
        people;
Whereas according to the United States Agency for International Development 
        maternal and child mortality rates in Bangladesh have declined by more 
        than 60 percent, production of rice has tripled, and growth in gross 
        domestic product has averaged more than 6 percent annually for over a 
        decade;
Whereas Bangladesh has fulfilled the criteria to initiate graduation from the 
        United Nations ``Least Developed Country'' status and could become a 
        middle-income country within the next 3 years;
Whereas in 2017, the generous people of Bangladesh welcomed more than 700,000 
        Rohingya refugees following the Burmese military and security force's 
        crimes against humanity and genocide against the Rohingya in Northern 
        Rakhine State;
Whereas in recent years, Bangladesh's democratic system has faced challenges, 
        including political violence, environmental strain, Islamist militancy, 
        a refugee crisis, and challenges to freedom of speech and press;
Whereas free, fair, transparent, and credible elections are the cornerstone of 
        every democracy;
Whereas legitimate elections that respect fundamental freedoms are characterized 
        by transparency, accountability, security, and accessibility for all 
        voters;
Whereas strong democracies worldwide make for better trading partners, provide 
        new market opportunities, improve global health outcomes, and promote 
        economic freedom and regional security;
Whereas attacks on democracy and democratic institutions undermine the 
        sacrifices of the Bangladeshi people and the country's commitment to 
        human rights and the rule of law;
Whereas one of Bangladesh's main political parties boycotted the 2014 general 
        election due to concerns about the impartiality of the electoral 
        process;
Whereas Bangladesh is scheduled to hold general elections on December 30, 2018;
Whereas democratic stability, regional security, and economic prosperity in 
        Bangladesh and South Asia are vital to the national security interests 
        of the United States;
Whereas the United States-Bangladesh relationship is built on a foundation of 
        shared values and cooperation on issues including economic growth and 
        development, labor rights, peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and the 
        environment and climate;
Whereas the United States should more actively engage with the Government of 
        Bangladesh with respect to their shared interests in safeguarding human 
        rights, religious freedom, and secular democracy in Bangladesh, while 
        preventing the growth of religious extremism and militancy; and
Whereas repeated attacks on religious minorities, expanding religious 
        intolerance, and growing destabilization caused by radical groups 
        undermine United States economic and strategic interests in Bangladesh: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
        promote free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 
        Bangladesh;
            (2) calls on the Government of Bangladesh to respect the 
        freedom of speech and of the press and to heed the Bangladesh 
        Election Commission's request to ensure security for minorities 
        and maintain communal harmony for a peaceful election;
            (3) urges political leaders and judicial authorities in 
        Bangladesh to respect the will of voters and ensure that all 
        Bangladeshis will be able to participate freely in the upcoming 
        elections, and that the elections will be impartial and 
        inclusive; and
            (4) commends the government and people of Bangladesh for 
        their generosity in hosting Rohingya refugees despite the 
        hardships associated with responding to this man-made 
        humanitarian disaster created by the Burmese military and 
        security force's crimes against humanity and genocide against 
        the Rohingya in Northern Rakhine State.
                                 <all>
```