On February 15, 2007, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) introduced Senate Bill 652, “to extend certain trade preferences to certain least-developed countries,” Bangladesh among them. The idea behind the bill and the tariff relief it provides to countries like Sri Lanka, still recovering from the 2004 tsunami, is a good one. Help recipient nations build “sustainable economic growth,” alleviate poverty, develop a vibrant private sector. It is also a way to fight the war against extremism without placing a single life at risk. As noted in the bill. “Economic opportunity and engagement in the global trading system together with support for democratic institutions and a respect for human rights are mutually reinforcing objectives and key elements of a policy to confront and defeat global terrorism.”

As is, however, SB652 threatens years of ongoing human rights efforts, especially in the struggle to free and Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury and maintain his freedom.

Unfortunately, the Bangladeshi government’s decision to release Shoaib in 2005 and its actions of forbearance towards him were not undertaken because of some change of heart in Dhaka. Other Bangladeshi dissidents facing sedition charges are proof of that, as is the fact that Shoaib is still facing capital charges of “sedition, treason, and blasphemy”; even though numerous government officials have admitted that they are baseless; even though they promised American officials and others that they would drop them.

One of our greatest weapons in this battle has been to hold up tariff relief for Bangladesh. When Shamsher M. Chowdhury was sent to Washington as Bangladesh’s Ambassador, his number one goal was to secure a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. Less than ten days after that, Chowdhury was summoned to Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL)’s office where he heard that his agenda would not move forward with the US as long as Bangladeshi continued to ignore human rights and appease radical, including the continued imprisonment and false charges against Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. The Bangladeshis have heard that time and again: as long as the charges remain against Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, tariff relief will remain elusive.

SB652 threatens to undermine our efforts severely. And the Bangladeshis know that. Since the bill has been introduced, the Bangladeshi Supreme Court hearing scheduled to rule on Shoaib’s petition to drop the charges has been postponed three times. There is talk in Dhaka that SB652 proves that ultimately American resolve is soft and can be waited out.

BUT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS TRAGEDY.

SB652 is in its early stages and can be salvaged with specific language requiring Bangladeshi compliance with House Resolution 64 (or something similar) in order to receive the tariff relief. It now rests with the Senate Finance Committee, and if committee members hear from their constituents, they will support changing the bill. If you live in any of the following states, you can help by phoning or faxing your Senator. Click your state below for contact information for the Senators, as well as “scripts” for faxing or emailing and for calling. Adhere to or diverge from the scripts as you see fit:

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, , Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon(1), Oregon(2), Utah, Washington,West Virginia, Wyoming.

Please help. Your contact will do so much to help us achieve a final victory not only in saving Shoaib, but in strengthening people both in and out of the Muslim world in their own courageous struggles against radical Islam.

Bio of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

Bio of Dr. Richard Benkin.