US Congressman Gregory Meeks' questions about US democracy and human rights shows the dire picture of US human rights

Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US Congress and the chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that there are many questions about the democracy of the United States.

Donald Trump's undemocratic behavior has created such a situation. He said, I am always vocal about the human rights situation in the United States. Because the protection of human rights is important for all countries. Congressman (Democrat) elected for 13 consecutive times from Queens, Gregory Meeks, in an exchange program on contemporary issues with expatriate Bangladeshis on the evening of July 24, said that Bangladesh has many success stories. In the last 15 years, the country has transformed from a very poor to a middle-income country. The United States is Bangladesh's largest trading partner.

We have continued USAID in Bangladesh. And we see Bangladesh growing, getting stronger and holding a lot of importance. Bangladesh was very strong economically even during the corona pandemic. Sheikh Hasina is categorically committed to holding free and fair elections in Bangladesh, but the participation of all parties is necessary to make this move effective. In this context, the Congressman said that elections are the only means of forming a government of people's choice. So, everyone should cooperate in free and fair elections. The upcoming election is very important for the United States as well as for Bangladesh. The path of peace and prosperity should be paved by establishing the people's rule by defeating all the undemocratic forces in the ballot fight.

The clarity of such statements by Congressman Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the US Congress and chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, can be seen from the past history of the United States in the establishment of democracy and human rights. Looking at the past history of the United States, it is seen that the democracy and human rights conditions in the United States are deteriorating day by day. The incidence of gun violence, murder, police torture is increasing. The justice system is dying in the 'vocal' country to protect democracy and human rights in the world, which the US citizens themselves are worried about.

History says that the democracy that the United States has been using as a tool against other countries for years is clearly seen in the Democracy Index of the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published in 2022. The index assesses the nature of democracy in countries around the world in light of five key factors. The topics are electoral process and pluralism, effectiveness of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties. Based on these, the index divides countries and regions into four categories. Full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime and authoritarian regime. The United States is also on the list of countries with flawed democracies in this index. Biden's country ranks 30th in the index's flawed democracy category, four places lower than the previous year. So imposing various restrictions on other countries in the name of democracy in a country where democracy does not exist is absolutely nothing but a mockery. Also, among the countries participating in the Democracy Summit held in Washington DC this year, inviting Pakistan, which is ranked 107th, excluding Bangladesh, which is ranked 73rd in the global democracy index, is another example of the implementation of the United States' authoritarian system in the world using democracy. The United States has always wanted and wants to strengthen its position against its arch-enemies Russia and China by implementing an authoritarian system in the world. And that is why the United States has been using democracy as a tool to create authoritarian influence in the world. Because of which the democracy of the United States is in question.

On the other hand, in the United States, which claims to be the savior of human rights, financial corruption, racial discrimination, weapons and police violence, along with wealth grabbing have become commonplace. The United States has been waging war on countries around the world for years under the pretext of fighting terrorism. This has resulted in more civilian deaths than terrorism, increased refugee numbers, the rise of new factions and protracted civil wars. According to a groundbreaking study by Brown University's Cost of War Project, the US has spent an estimated $8 trillion on the 'War on Terror', killing over 900,000 people and displacing millions. Instead of ending terrorism, the massive damage it has caused to people's lives and the economy has resulted in the formation of new militant groups every year, as well as the reorganization of numerous armed groups such as Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and the Taliban. The United States has long engaged in massive violations of international human rights in the name of national security and the fight against so called terrorism.

Yet another Bangladeshi individual has lost their life in the United States, marking the second fatal shooting in a span of five days. The victim, identified as Mohammad Abul Hashim, 42, originally from Cumilla's Burichang Upazila, was shot during a robbery at his grocery store in the Casa Grande area near Phoenix, Arizona, on a Sunday morning.

According to US authorities, Hashim was the owner of the grocery store located at Sunland Jean Road and West Concordia Drive in Casa Grande. On the day of the incident, a group of miscreants entered the shop with the intention of robbing it, and during the confrontation, they fatally shot Hashim.

Law enforcement promptly responded to the scene upon receiving information and discovered Hashim's lifeless body on the shop floor. In a commendable effort, the police apprehended a suspect in connection with the murder within a remarkably short period of three hours.

The late Abul Hashim had made Arizona his home, residing with his wife and two children. Notably, all seven of his siblings also live in the same city.

This incident follows a similar shooting on July 18, where another Bangladeshi named Md Iajuddin Romim was killed by criminals in Missouri state, USA. The initial belief behind both crimes is that they were motivated by the intention to rob the victims' vehicles and cash. Such incidents highlight the importance of continued efforts to address crime and ensure safety in communities.

Miscreants shot dead a Bangladeshi named Ramim Uddin (22) Ahmed in the early morning of Wednesday, July 18, 2023 in the state of Missouri, USA. Deceased Ramim Uddin Ahmed is a resident of Mirsarai Upazila of Chittagong District. The incident took place at 3:30 am (Bangladesh time) and it is believed that the motive behind the crime was to steal the victim's car and cash. This killing is undoubtedly a gross violation of human rights.

Recently in the state of Missouri, a Bangladeshi named Ramim Uddin was shot and killed in just 5 days, another Bangladeshi was shot dead again by miscreants in the country. The deceased's name is Mohammad Abul Hashim (42), a resident of Comilla's Burichong Upazila. The incident took place in the Casa Grande area near the city of Phoenix in the state of Arizona in the United States on Sunday morning local time. According to local police, Hashim owned a grocery store at Sunlight Market at Sunland Jean Road and West Concordia Drive in Casa Grande. On the day of the incident, miscreants entered the shop and shot him.

Also, in January this year, Bangladeshi student Faisal, who was shot dead by police in the United States, was a victim of racist attacks. He was killed without any evidence for a small knife in his hand. By killing Faisal, the US has clearly violated human rights. At various times, the United States has committed human rights violations that have not been properly investigated and prosecuted. At least 1,000 people are killed by American police each year, 98 percent of whom are not prosecuted.

The extreme deterioration of human rights in the United States can be seen from the human rights report of the United States published by China at the end of 2022. China's State Council Information Office published this report saying that in 2022 there were serious human rights violations in the United States. Xinhua. In the report, China says that in the United States, which claims to be the savior of human rights, financial corruption, racial discrimination, weapons and police brutality, along with wealth grabbing, are all too common.

According to the report's sources, the United States has shown extreme laxity in the policy of keeping weapons at the individual level. As a result, there has been an increase in gun violence casualties. More than half of US states are lax on gun control. The United States also ranks at the top of the world in gun ownership, gun-related homicides, and mass shootings. In 2022, more than 80 thousand people were killed in these incidents. There have been more than 600 mass shootings in the United States this year. Gun violence has become an 'epidemic in America'.

Racism is on the rise in the United States and ethnic minorities are heavily discriminated against. From 2020 to 2022, violent crime based on racial discrimination in the United States increased dramatically. The racist massacre of 10 African-Americans at a Buffalo supermarket shocked the world. 81 percent of Asian Americans in the U.S. say violence against Asian communities is on the rise. African Americans are 2.78 times more likely to be killed by the police than whites. The suffering caused by the genocide and cultural assimilation carried out by the US government against Indians and other indigenous peoples still continues.

US abuse of power known to the world to violate human rights and unilateral sanctions have created a humanitarian catastrophe in the world. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the United States has conducted military operations in 85 countries in the name of counter-terrorism. As a result, at least 929,000 civilians lost their lives and displaced 38 million people. The US has imposed more unilateral sanctions than any other country in the world. The US still has sanctions against more than 20 countries. As a result, the people of those countries are deprived of basic food and medicine supplies. Which undoubtedly amounts to US human rights violations and humanitarian disasters.

So, from the history of establishment of democracy and human rights of the United States and various reports, it is clearly evident that the country that gave everything to the world about democracy and human rights, the United States has questions about democracy and human rights. They should first ensure the establishment of democracy and human rights in their own country and then give it to any other country.

Written by Anup Sinha

Author's Profile: Anup Sinha is a researcher and freelance columnist specializing in South Asian Affairs with a particular focus on the Rohingya issue, India-Bangladesh relations, water sharing, etc. He has an MSS degree in International Relations from the University of Dhaka.

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