After Destroying Pakistan, The US Now Wants to Ruin Bangladesh

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 18 December 2023 The US Shows Its Support to Jamaat for Upcoming Elections Main Points: 1. The US does not want stability in South Asia. 2. It has a history of backing extremist organisations for its own interests. 3. During Awami League government, Bangladesh had become a centre of terrorism. 4. Jamaat Islami does not believe in democracy and secularism. 5. Shaikh Hasina eliminated terrorists from Bangladesh. ------ Shahriar Kabir. The Telegraph. ------ Shaheryar Kabir's interview gives a peak into the current political situation in Bangladesh. The country will go to the polls in January 2024 and Shaikh Hasina's Awami League is bracing for a fourth consecutive win. Hasina has successfully led Bangladesh's transition from a haven of militancy and terrorism to a democratic secular country and a growing economy. She has a large support base not only among the secular and democratic minded Muslims but also among the minorities because during her tenure, the minorities have felt safer than in the Awami League government supported by Jamaat Islami. Shaheryar Kabir expresses surprise at the proximity of the Communists to the Jamaat though it knows well that Jamaar does not approve of communism as a political ideology and its agnosticism. This may surprise many but not those who know about their relations as far back as the 1940s when the freedom movement was at its peak. During the period, Jamaat and the communist party would jointly organise public meetings against the British. It would then be seen as the two fighting for a common cause and so no one would express surprise. But that their bonhomie continues even after the Independence not only in Bangladesh but also in India is really surprising. The Jamaat Islami in India feels at home with the communists. This perhaps because the Shaikh Hasina government's overwhelming popularity and Awami League's mass base does not give them the space to work and grow. Therefore, both the organisations think that in Awami League's government they may get better prospects and greater space because of their century old relations. As for the US declaring the Jamaat Islami a moderate Islamic party, it changes labels according to its convenience. The US has nothing to do with morality or human rights as these are only the US's political tools. Remember the Good Taliban, Bad Taliban theory when it required the support of Taliban or needed to support them as per their political convenience. It seems that the US has focused on Bangladesh politics for a few reasons. First, Hasina government has eliminated terrorism from Bangladesh and put it on the path to economic growth. A country that is progressing reduces its dependence on global powers and does not take dictation from the US. Second, Hasina government has pursued an independent foreign policy. On the one hand, she has maintained good relations with India, and on the other hand she has reached out to China to establish economic relations with her. This irks the US. Therefore, a government headed by BNP-Jamaat alliance will serve its interests better. However, Hasina government's use of EVMs in elections has created doubts over the transparency of the elections. Shaikh Hasina's party fared much better in the last elections raising doubts over the efficacy of the EVM. This needs to be addressed. It is intriguing and disconcerting that the governments of the South Asia insist on the use of electronic voting machines. The Hasina government should concede to the demand of use of ballot papers in elections if it really believes that the masses are with her. ------ India would hate to see Bangladesh Nationalist Party-Jamaat wrest power: Shahriar Kabir By Subhoranjan Dasgupta 17.12.23 The parliamentary elections are due early next year and Bangladesh is roiling. The chief actors are the ruling Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Jamaat-e-Islami and Uncle Sam. In the news — protests and rallies against the incumbent Sheikh Hasina-led government eyeing a fourth consecutive term in office, arrests of Opposition leaders and supporters, and the ensuing violence. In September, an over-anxious US State Department announced the imposition of visa restrictions on “Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh” and in November, the sudden departure of US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas for a “short vacation” caused a flutter. Against this political backdrop, Subhoranjan Dasgupta chats with Bangladeshi human rights activist Shahriar Kabir. Here are the excerpts. Q: The BNP is sustaining its agitation, turning violent at times. To what extent have the people of Bangladesh responded to their programme? The agitation launched by the BNP in the first phase was more or less peaceful. The people also responded to a certain extent... But since October 28, the BNP-Jamaat’s anti-government movement turned violent — a constable was butchered, journalists were severely assaulted, the residence of the Chief Justice was attacked, many buses and other vehicles were set on fire and a couple of helpers of buses were burnt to death. Above all, the blockade of rail and road and the days of hartal adversely impacted business, daily wage earners and peasants in particular who supply vegetables to towns and cities. I fear rallies, blockades and hartals will conti- nue till the elections. The people, however, are tired, even disgusted, by this continuing unrest and they are not simply responding. In other words, the support to the BNP’s anti-government movement has completely subsided. Q: Will the ruling Awami League succumb to pressure? The ruling power has categorically said that no caretaker government will be installed under any circumstances to conduct the elections. Earlier, the ruling party invited the BNP to talks and consultations but this appeal has been ignored. Sections of the BNP, however, have come out of the BNP fold to contest elections on their own. Q: What is the latest political position of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the electoral ally of the BNP, which has been labelled a “moderate Islamic party” by the US? First, the Jamaat, funded by the ISI, is egging on the BNP. Second, the high court has banned the Jamaat from contesting elections. It has appealed to the Supreme Court but the verdict is awaited. You see, the politics of Jamaat, even its very Constitution, is totally opposite to the secular, democratic Constitution of the country. Its guidebook is the Quran, which is of course acceptable as a religious holy text, but that cannot be the basis of modern governance. Further, its Weltanschauung is thoroughly anti-women and anti- minority. It is not at all a “moderate Islamic party” as the US administration labels it. It is a rabid fundamentalist party whose past is nefarious and condemnable. It collaborated with the killing army of Yahya Khan in 1971 and took part in the genocide of the Bengalis. Even now it acts in close concert with the ISI. It will contest elections in an indirect or covert way as before, that is, support “independent” candidates nominated by them. Q: How would you evaluate the political position of the Jatiya Party, which functions as the main Opposition in the absence of the BNP, and Leftist parties such as the Bangladesh Communist Party and the Workers Party of Bangladesh? The Jatiya Party has to settle its own internal tussle. In any case, they are putting up candidates in most constituencies. The Left, which had functioned in the past as partners of the coalition led by the Awami League, however, seems to have shifted gear. It has inched closer to the BNP. I find this inexplicable. How can the “secular” Left inch close to a political formation that works in concert with the Jamaat? Indeed, some Left politicians have been attending rallies and meetings organised by the BNP and other Islamic parties. When journalists ask them why, they fail to give a convincing reply. Q: Why has the US been taking such an excessive interest in Bangladesh? The policy and attitude of the US administration towards Bangladesh have been flawed since the very beginning. It supported the murderous military regime of Pakistan during the Liberation War. During that phase, the American Consul General of Dhaka, Archer Blood, repeatedly stressed in his reports the blunder that the State Department was committing. Not only was he ignored but also cornered by Henry Kissinger and his aides. We, on our part, have made all possible efforts to influence American Congressmen and tell them that their State Department’s “moderate” Jamaat is, in actuality, a Bangladeshi version of the Taliban... The US government faces no problem dealing with a thoroughly royalist dispensation like Saudi Arabia, which hacks off limbs as punishment. It had all along supported the military regime of Pakistan since 1947 as a valued ally. It prompted the bloody military takeover of Chile in 1973 by General Pinochet — the Leftist democrat Salvador Allende died fighting. It departed from Afghanistan in the most casual, careless manner... It carpet-bombed Iraq falsely claiming that Iraq has a secret store of nuclear weapons. In short, its record as the protector of democracy and human rights is shocking and inglorious. But now the same country is tearing its hair over Bangladesh. The truth lies elsewhere. White House is against the functioning of national, secular governments in the developing world which are trying to follow independent foreign policies. The present Bangladesh government nurtures a special relationship of amity with India, invites China to undertake bilateral economic projects, while Russia is helping us build our nuclear power plant. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told the Americans that we cannot allow them to set up any deep-sea port or naval base in the Bay of Bengal. I think this concept and practice of sovereignty irks the strongest nation of the world used to gestures of subservience. The US government always prefers puppet regimes in the developing world and elsewhere. Q: New Delhi, on its part, has explicitly stated its preference for the Awami League to the US government. Has this had any effect? We are grateful to the Indian government for its supportive role since 1971. I think this should have some impact. The reasons for India’s preference are crystal clear. Tell me, how can New Delhi forget the troubled past when the BNP and the Jamaat coalition government actively encouraged and assisted the insurgency movement in the northeastern states of India? At that point in time, no fewer than 160 military training camps were active in Bangladesh and the leaders of the secessionist movements were treated as guests and freedom fighters. The Awami League government, after coming to power in 1996, rooted out such insurgency and handed over those secessionist leaders to the Indian government. The minority community also had to face a lot of harassment, even persecution, during the BNP-Jamaat regime. Expectedly, India would hate to see the BNP-Jamaat, supported by the ISI, wrest power in Bangladesh. New Delhi has told Washington in unambiguous terms that the present dispensation is indispensable for the progress and stability of the entire region. Q: India’s defeat at the cricket World Cup final is said to have been greeted fulsomely in Bangladesh. Is the common perception in Bangladesh opposed to India? Indeed, there are pro-Pakistan elements in our politics and society. These anti-liberation Islamists supported Pakistan during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Their political and ideological successors are still active, and are trying to re-establish the Pakistani concept in the politics, culture and society of Bangladesh. Its reflection in sports is also quite visible. We have seen in the past how Bangladeshis are supporting Pakistan against India in cricket matches. This is nothing new. But the majority of sports spectators in Bangladesh love good cricket and support India. Source: India would hate to see Bangladesh Nationalist Party-Jamaat wrest power: Shahriar Kabir URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-west/destroying-pakistan-us-ruin-bangladesh/d/131331 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism