[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2413-H2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR BANGLADESH'S RETURN TO DEMOCRACY

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1215) expressing support for Bangladesh's 
return to democracy, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1215

       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 moderate and 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 United States 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 United States Department of State 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 United States 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 Secretary of State 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 United States Agency for International Development to 
     continue supporting the building of a strong civil society 
     and eradicating poverty in Bangladesh.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Crowley) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CROWLEY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H2414]]

  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1215, a measure to honor 
Bangladesh's return to democracy. I'd like to thank the chairman of the 
House Foreign Relations Committee, Chairman Berman, and Ranking Member 
Ros-Lehtinen for their support of this resolution. I'd also like to 
thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for leading this effort 
with me, along with other members of the House Caucus on Bangladesh.
  Just 18 months ago, this House passed a resolution urging a return to 
democracy in Bangladesh. At the time, we were concerned that Bangladesh 
was creeping toward totalitarianism and authoritarianism, especially 
after the ruling caretaker government postponed national elections. The 
160 million people of Bangladesh faced an uncertain future.
  Instead of succumbing to the temptations of permanent power, the 
caretaker government ultimately scheduled nationwide elections. They 
invited international election monitors into the country and created an 
independent anticorruption commission. The elections were deemed 
credible by numerous international observers, and, most importantly, by 
the people of Bangladesh.
  Today, the day before Bangladesh celebrates their Independence Day, 
it is an opportunity for this House to honor the Bangladesh people and 
their democracy. Bangladesh has made important strides towards reaching 
the qualification requirements of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. 
It has taken steps to create a path into government for women, and, not 
least, the Bangladeshis have worked very hard to fight extremism.
  Bangladesh has become an important partner of the United States. Even 
as it faces challenges with serious poverty, threats from climate 
change, and extremism, the Bangladeshi people have shown remarkable 
resilience, creativity, and principle. This is exactly the kind of 
country the United States ought to work with and do more to support, 
not because the situation on the ground is perfect, but because by 
working together we have clearly created a better path forward.
  In the coming months, I hope the Bangladeshi authorities will make 
every possible effort to deepen and strengthen political reconciliation 
within their country. I also hope the Bangladeshi people and their 
government will work with us to identify stronger mechanisms to improve 
assistance and protection for refugees fleeing from neighboring 
countries. Inside Bangladesh, the protection of minorities must remain 
a high priority for its government. At the same time, I hope the 
international community will more quickly wake up to the positive 
changes Bangladesh has made thus far.
  The fact is, Bangladesh is a moderate Muslim nation of 160 million 
people that wants to work with the United States of America. I hope 
that our government can find more ways to work alongside Bangladesh to 
support good governance, human rights, and development. There's clearly 
much more that we can do to work together.
  For today, though, we honor Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi people, and 
the many hardworking Bangladeshi Americans on their national day, a day 
that I know that they treasure. As an independent, moderate, and 
democratic nation, Bangladesh deserves no less.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I wish to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 1215, a measure expressing the support 
of the American people for Bangladesh's return to democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States and Bangladesh have been friends for 
more than a half a century. We have worked together to build a strong 
and lasting democracy. The United States welcomed the free, fair, and 
transparent elections that occurred in December 2008. The United States 
is proud to have supported that effort, and we will continue to support 
efforts to improve and promote development, democracy, social harmony, 
and mutual tolerance.
  The United States attaches a great importance to South Asia. In this 
context, the good news coming out of Bangladesh related to democratic 
development, economic progress, and rejection of violent extremism. All 
of this is being strongly welcomed in Washington. In this regard, we 
are all pleased that ties between our two countries continue to deepen. 
Our two governments are working closely to address global challenges, 
including climate change, food security, terrorism, and pandemic 
disease.
  I would particularly like to highlight longstanding U.S. efforts to 
empower women at the grassroots level, including through helping local 
governments be more transparent and accountable to the Bangladeshi 
people. Meanwhile, the growing voice of the Bangladeshi American 
community in Arkansas and elsewhere around the country is helping to 
strengthen and extend people-to-people ties between our two vibrant 
societies.
  In conclusion, I support the adoption of the resolution.
  Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for his 
being here in support of this resolution and the minority for 
supporting this resolution and the timely manner in which you allowed 
this to come to the floor. I appreciate it tremendously. I know all the 
members of the Bangladeshi Caucus appreciate it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to visit Bangladesh on 
several occasions, and I have tremendous respect for the people of 
Bangladesh. They're hardworking, good people, and they love America. 
It's amazing the outpouring of affection that I experience when I go to 
that country.
  I also want to say that post-9/11, on my first visit to Bangladesh, 
the desire for the Bangladeshi people to strengthen the ties between 
our two nations was palpable then. I know in this new government, the 
post-caretaker government, it is as strong today as it was after 9/11. 
And for a country of 160 million Muslim people with a considerable 
minority population within that population, as well, of Hindu and 
Christian and other religions, that bond between our nations is as 
strong as ever. I also recognize that not everything is perfect in 
Bangladesh and that they're working towards making it a stronger and a 
better democracy for its people, but also for the region in which 
Bangladesh lies.
  So, Mr. Speaker, with that, I just want to thank, again, the minority 
for this opportunity to congratulate Bangladesh as they celebrate their 
Independence Day, and the people of Bangladesh and Bangladeshi 
Americans who hold very dear March 26 as Bangladeshi Independence Day.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1215, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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