US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena blamed “cheap politicians and land grabbers” for the violence in Ramu and on minorities.
Chatting on Facebook on Monday, Mozena said: “I believe the violence against Buddhist temples and monasteries at Ramu and Ukhia last September and against Hindus in February this year was the work of outside cheap politicians and nasty land grabbers.”
The ambassador’s comments came during a discussion on the US Embassy-Dhaka’s Facebook page on “The Power of One: Individual Action, Shared Peace”, about the role of individuals in building a “Sonar Bangla.”
He said: “My travels about Bangladesh have made clear to me that Bangladeshis of different religions and ethnicities can and do live side-by-side in peace and harmony. Bangladeshis themselves want to live in peace.”
He said the best democracy is democracy that is closest to the people, adding: “America supports Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to decentralise governance, to take governance closer to the people.”
He said the opposition parties must play a role for democracy to work.
“The opposition has a big role to play in a democracy, which is why I endeavour my opposition friends to take their seats in the parliament and contribute constructively to the legislative process.”
He said a point that he repeatedly makes when speaking with political leaders was to emphasise that there is no role for violence in democratic processes.
