Bangladesh Feb 12 polls face uncertainty amid US pullback

WASHINGTON, Jan 28: Uncertainty is increasing over Bangladesh’s February 12 elections as US engagement declines and support for democratic institutions weakens, according to Mark Warner, chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Warner said he could not assess whether the polls would be free and fair, citing reduced American influence on the ground. Warner attributed this decline to the dismantling of US soft power mechanisms, including USAID, under the Trump administration, which weakened Washington’s connections in Bangladesh. He said there was early optimism following political changes in the c…