DOT Desk: [2] Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen today said the US has possibly invited “weak democracies” to its Democracy Summit in its first phase, which is why it did not invite Bangladesh.
[3] “Bangladesh has a stable democracy… a very transparent democracy. People can vote in a fair and free manner,” he told reporters after a discussion on climate change at Dhaka University today.
[4] “In our country, all people can vote. When there’s a will, there’s a way. From that perspective, we are much better,” he said.
[5] US President Joe Biden’s Democracy Summit is scheduled for December 9 and 10. While Bangladesh has been excluded from the list of the 110 invitees, its neighbours India, Pakistan and Nepal made it to the list of the summit — to be held virtually.
[6] Foreign Minister Momen, however, said that it was the responsibility of the US on what parameters they used to choose the countries.
He said he does not agree that Bangladesh has been excluded. “They (US) will hold the summit in two phases — this year and next year. In the first phase, some countries will join. Perhaps, we’ll be invited to the second phase.”
We should focus on our democracy, the foreign minister said. “We won’t do it on the basis of others’ advice… We work for the welfare of the people.”