US and democracy in South Asia

As recent history has shown, it is people who bring change, not any external power.

The recent announcement by the United States that it will be able "to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh" has led to a belief that it is interested in promoting democracy and is committed to protecting human rights. Though promotion of democracy has been part of US foreign policy for a very long time, it has used it selectively. History shows that the US has rather stood by military dictators and authoritarian regimes. Many of the regimes which are US allies are also accused of trampling democracy and human rights. Within the region, there are several examples of US condoning autocratic regimes, and this policy continues.