[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>