According to Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, the country is now completely open to foreign journalists, which is a dramatic change from the restrictions imposed by the former Awami League leadership.
At one point, international journalists were virtually prohibited from visiting Bangladesh for work-related reasons. According to a message received here today, he said, “Now, those restrictions are gone,” during a media event held in Mexico City on Friday.
According to Ansari, these unspoken prohibitions have been lifted by the current interim administration, which is headed by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and international media experts have been invited to observe the actual situation on the ground.
The event, held at Bangladesh House in Mexico City, brought together prominent journalists from global media outlets, including Will Grant (BBC correspondent for Mexico, Central America, and Cuba, and author of Populista: The Rise of Latin America’s 21st), Thomas Graham (The Guardian), José de Córdoba (The Wall Street Journal), M. Harris Dal Hollen (The Economist), and Carolina Millán (bureau chief, Bloomberg News).
Others in attendance included Matt Yack (columnist), Carmen Otero (Diplomatic Magazine – Mondo), Dr. Marion Lloyd (Boston Globe columnist and professor at UNAM), Katerina Morbiato (AP), Victoria Dittmar (Insight Crime), Johnny Warrett (OCCRP), and Dr. Aribel Contreras (professor, Iberoamericana University).
During the interactive discussion, the attendees inquired about Bangladesh’s political landscape, upcoming elections, and its standing on the global stage.
Ambassador Ansari highlighted the end of what he described as a long period of autocratic rule under Sheikh Hasina.
“Bangladesh’s students and people have set a remarkable precedent by bringing an end to dictatorship, though thousands of youth had to sacrifice their lives in the process,” he said.
Citing the recent report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, he added, “Investigative teams have found evidence linking Sheikh Hasina to these brutal crackdowns.”
Emphasizing the role of youth leadership in securing democracy, Ansari noted that political groups fought tirelessly against Hasina’s extended rule, enduring arrests, enforced disappearances, and killings.
He reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to a free and fair election, stating, “We are working on necessary institutional reforms, and elections are expected to take place by the end of this year or early next year.”
Touching on bilateral ties, Ansari highlighted that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Mexico. He emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and communication, calling for the establishment of a Mexican embassy in Bangladesh to further enhance diplomatic engagement.
The event was concluded with a dinner featuring traditional Bangladeshi cuisine, offering guests a taste of the country’s rich culinary heritage.
