As a student of international relations and a journalist covering international affairs for decades, I had no choice but to wonder if US Secretary of State John Kerry was re-writing Washington-Dhaka ties.
What has been described as a whirlwind nine-hour visit to Dhaka brought out more surprises than expected. A real paradigm shift on major issues between the countries.
Is it a tactic of balance of power in the face of growing Dhaka-New Delhi, Dhaka-Beijing, and Dhaka-Moscow ties, with the United States increasingly in the bad book of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina? This is another question that needs to be probed.
Let us begin with his note at Bangabandhu Bhaban after becoming the first US cabinet member to lay a wreath for the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He wrote: “What a tragedy to have such brilliant and courageous leadership stolen from the people of Bangladesh in such a moment of violence and cowardice.
But today, Bangladesh is growing in the vision of Bangabandhu -- and under the strong leadership of his daughter. The United States is proud to be a friend and strong supporter of the fulfillment of his vision. We look forward to growing and working together for peace and prosperity.”
The killing of Bangabandhu in 1975 a tragedy? Brilliant and courageous leadership? Bangabandhu’s vision? Strong leadership of his daughter?
These are striking words in a very articulate comment in the guest book.
The United States had not only opposed the Bangladesh war in the name of ping-pong diplomacy, but hadturned a blind eye to the genocide in the then East Pakistan, and supplied weapons to kill Bangalis.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was a “traitor” trying to break Pakistan, and thus there was no question of having a vision. The killing in 1975 was in some ways welcomed by the United States as it did not condemn the assassination of Bangabandhu, among other things, and have since harboured those behind the coup.
Thus, describing Bangabandhu as a “courageous leader” who was “stolen” from the Bangalis is a paradigm shift with its final recognition of Bangabandhu as the Father of the Nation by Washington.
Russia and India have been age-old tested friends of the ruling Awami League, but what about China, which recognised Bangladesh after Bangabandhu’s death?
When did Washington realise that there was a “strong leadership” of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, after going soft on opposition BNP-Jamaat violence, when it boycotted the 2014 general elections? Washington has pushed for “inclusive polls” at the cost of maintaining constitutional process and keeping 1971 war criminals in national politics.
Indeed, it appeared that one of the coup-plotters in the US may not be as lucky any more as he has been so far, because that is a pressing issue for Dhaka, and many issues are linked to that, including human rights or rule of law in Bangladesh or in the US.
You cannot have death sentences in the US and give excuses for letting a killer roam around free in the name of human rights in Bangladesh.
Let us now move to the international front. To me, it has been a big puzzle of how our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has managed to make good friends with Russia, China, and India. These countries have their own bilateral problems.
Bangladesh has been moving toward new heights despite America’s negativism on many issues relating to Bangladesh. But now, for Mr Kerry, it is a country with which US looks “forward to growing and working together for peace and prosperity.”
Russia and India have been age-old tested friends of the ruling Awami League, but what about China, which recognised Bangladesh after Bangabandhu’s death?
It has been the shrewd statesmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has turned Beijing into a major development partner for Dhaka.
Around 1994-95, Sheikh Hasina travelled to China as an opposition leader, and I wrote a report saying “Ice-breaking trip to China by Bangladesh opposition leader” because of the relations at that point between the Awami League and the Chinese Communist Party. Since then it has been growing with Chinese participation in the construction of the major Padma Bridge.
Back then, the US was looking on helplessly as it stood on the sidelines watching a new Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. It now wants to bring about a balance of power in this situation, and has started to rethink its stand on Dhaka.
It will all be meaningful, provided Kerry delivers his promises, especially about Bangabandhu’s killer in his country, and the GSP facilities even at the fag end of his administration.
Nadeem Qadir, a senior journalist, is a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism. He is the Press Minister of Bangladesh High Commission in London.