Senior US Congressmen Joe Wilson and Nile Pow, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Bangladesh Caucus, have written to US Secretary of State Mark Rubio urging support for Bangladesh’s government to ensure that the upcoming February 12 general election is free, fair, and secure. The letter, sent last Tuesday, describes the election as crucial for Bangladesh’s future and calls for active engagement from the US State Department ahead of the national vote and referendum.

The congressmen noted that the election follows reforms by the interim government and represents a positive step forward. They emphasized that this will be Bangladesh’s first vote since the 2024 protests and uprising, during which the UN Human Rights Office reported over 1,400 deaths caused by security forces. The letter also referenced the US State Department’s earlier assessments that the 2018 and 2024 elections were not free or fair.

Expressing concern over Bangladesh’s fragile and unstable situation, the lawmakers cited recent killings of a pro-democracy leader and a worker. They described the election as an opportunity to break cycles of violence and build a government that respects the rule of law and human rights, urging a pre-election briefing on US actions.