Bangladeshi Elections: Ali Riaz Testifies before House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Asia and the Pacific

Public Policy Scholar Ali Riaz testified yesterday before the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific on the political turmoil surrounding the upcoming Bangladeshi elections now scheduled for January 2014.  The key political actors in Bangladesh have been unable to agree on mechanisms for guaranteeing free elections, and the argument has recently turned violent. Riaz spoke with the subcommittee about how the history of the country has led to the current impasse, the importance of this specific election, and some possible futures moving forward.  He also addressed the impact of the electoral situation in Bangladesh on U.S. interests.  The full text of his remarks is available below.