Context of Bangladesh and Pakistan: It is the US’s clear two-pronged policy
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Tilottama Rani Charulata
The author Brahma Chelani, a professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi and a former adviser to India’s National Security Council said in an article tilted ‘Uneven U.S. treatment of Bangladesh and Pakistan makes little sense’ in the Nikkei Asia published on June 12 that the USA has adopted a double standard policy towards Bangladesh. He is the author of a total of 9 books, including ‘Water: Asia’s New Battlefield’. He also said that the USA has a vested geostrategic interest thus it has targeted Bangladesh like peaceful small country. On the other hand, despite having various human rights violation, it hasn’t targeted Pakistan. Thus, it can easily understand, the USA has vested interest in the Bangladesh case for the so-called violation of human rights etc.
Mass arrests, disappearances, murders and torture have become a regular occurrence in Pakistan under undeclared military rule. The US is not making any noise about it. But on the contrary, the country has stepped up to protect democracy in Bangladesh by imposing the ban that ‘those who obstruct the election will not be given US visa’. How exactly can such contrasting behavior towards the two countries be explained?
In short, the US has always been partisan about this democratic right. There are always geopolitical benefits involved. In this regard, democracy promotion serves as a major tool for US lawmakers to impose sanctions on vested interests.
Two factors put the US in a very advantageous position in imposing a new visa policy on Bangladesh. One is that a large number of relatives of Bangladeshi politicians live in the United States. Even Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son is a US green card holder. The other is that the big market for Bangladeshi products is the western world. Among them, the United States is at the top.
Few people would disagree with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statement that ‘the US’s goal is to ensure that the 2024 elections in Bangladesh are free and fair’. However, his threat to suspend visas for those ‘responsible for or involved in obstructing the democratic electoral process’ does little to promote this cause and may even be counterproductive.
Sheikh Hasina, the leader of Bangladesh’s independence struggle and the daughter of the first president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has alleged that the United States is trying to implement a strategy to topple the ruling government in Bangladesh. Last April, he told the National Parliament, “They want to uproot democracy and install a government that will not have democratic legitimacy.” This would be very undemocratic behaviour.’
She ensured political stability and rapid economic growth in the country. But recently, the country’s economy has suffered a bit due to the global economic crisis and the war in Ukraine.
Bangladesh’s excellent economic growth is the exact opposite of Pakistan. The country is currently on the brink of bankruptcy. Despite having so many positive aspects, Bangladesh was not invited to the democracy conference organized by the United States. But Pakistan was invited to two democracy conferences organized by the Biden administration. Although the country never joined.
The US has continued to support Pakistan for short-term geopolitical considera- tions. On the other hand, the United States has deprived Bangladesh by alleging that the democratic process is being disrupted in Bangladesh.
(To be contd)
The author Brahma Chelani, a professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi and a former adviser to India’s National Security Council said in an article tilted ‘Uneven U.S. treatment of Bangladesh and Pakistan makes little sense’ in the Nikkei Asia published on June 12 that the USA has adopted a double standard policy towards Bangladesh. He is the author of a total of 9 books, including ‘Water: Asia’s New Battlefield’. He also said that the USA has a vested geostrategic interest thus it has targeted Bangladesh like peaceful small country. On the other hand, despite having various human rights violation, it hasn’t targeted Pakistan. Thus, it can easily understand, the USA has vested interest in the Bangladesh case for the so-called violation of human rights etc.
Mass arrests, disappearances, murders and torture have become a regular occurrence in Pakistan under undeclared military rule. The US is not making any noise about it. But on the contrary, the country has stepped up to protect democracy in Bangladesh by imposing the ban that ‘those who obstruct the election will not be given US visa’. How exactly can such contrasting behavior towards the two countries be explained?
In short, the US has always been partisan about this democratic right. There are always geopolitical benefits involved. In this regard, democracy promotion serves as a major tool for US lawmakers to impose sanctions on vested interests.
Two factors put the US in a very advantageous position in imposing a new visa policy on Bangladesh. One is that a large number of relatives of Bangladeshi politicians live in the United States. Even Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son is a US green card holder. The other is that the big market for Bangladeshi products is the western world. Among them, the United States is at the top.
Few people would disagree with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statement that ‘the US’s goal is to ensure that the 2024 elections in Bangladesh are free and fair’. However, his threat to suspend visas for those ‘responsible for or involved in obstructing the democratic electoral process’ does little to promote this cause and may even be counterproductive.
Sheikh Hasina, the leader of Bangladesh’s independence struggle and the daughter of the first president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has alleged that the United States is trying to implement a strategy to topple the ruling government in Bangladesh. Last April, he told the National Parliament, “They want to uproot democracy and install a government that will not have democratic legitimacy.” This would be very undemocratic behaviour.’
She ensured political stability and rapid economic growth in the country. But recently, the country’s economy has suffered a bit due to the global economic crisis and the war in Ukraine.
Bangladesh’s excellent economic growth is the exact opposite of Pakistan. The country is currently on the brink of bankruptcy. Despite having so many positive aspects, Bangladesh was not invited to the democracy conference organized by the United States. But Pakistan was invited to two democracy conferences organized by the Biden administration. Although the country never joined.
The US has continued to support Pakistan for short-term geopolitical considera- tions. On the other hand, the United States has deprived Bangladesh by alleging that the democratic process is being disrupted in Bangladesh.
(To be contd)