r the opposition’s success at all. He said they have been informed that BNP-led alliance is planning to launch a movement centring January 5. Against this backdrop, the Western powers have made their stance clear saying that the movement has to be peaceful. They will not support, under any circumstances, destructive or violent movements like those of the pre-January 5 days. Sources concerned stated that in a meeting with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia recently, a Western diplomat wanted to know how is possible the fall of the government the party is speaking of. In reply to this, a senior BNP Leader present there hinted at strong movement. Then that western displomat said, they expect peaceful programme. They do not want any kind of violence. When the issue of dialogue came up at the meeting it was said on behalf of BNP that they are ready to sit in dialogue. The western diplomat wanted to know which issues BNP want to discuss at the dialogue. BNP’s reply to this was that after sitting in the dialogue agenda will be determined in view of the situation. Western sources said, they were very much disappointed to know that the party does not have any agenda at all. The support of the Western power is solicited at different times to establish strong democracy in Bangladeshi. But there is a question whether it is possible by them to materialize the aspiration if India does not agree. Delhi had strong support for holding the January 5 polls in time. Against the backdrop of such reality, interference in the matter of holding early elections may spark big controversy and reaction, this idea is also getting stronger among the Western powers. The Western countries including USA and European Union (EU) did not send observers to 5 January elections. Although US had issued statement terming the elections highly faulty, the present version of Dhaka and Washington is that the partnership of the two countries has become more deep, strong and extensive than any time in the past. The outgoing ambassador of US Dan W Mozena said at a function in Dhaka even on Saturday last that the degree of US partnership with Bangladesh is getting stronger everyday. This is not the matter of quibbling of diplomatic words. He said this taking into consideration the real perspective. Such comment of Mozena on US relations and partnership with Bangladesh is not new. Yet his latest comment is more significant than these of the past. Specially, when different circles including BNP apprehend strains in Bangladesh- US relations consequent upon the criticism of US assistant secretary of state for south and central Asian affairs Nisa Desai Biswal by local government minister Syed Ashraful Islam. Those who drew the attention of US state department in Washington to Syed Ashraf’s comment terming Nisha Desai as ‘two-party minister’ also did not get any direct response in this regard. They have only been told that Washington knows the matter. Only he who said this can explain the matter. Ruling out any possible impact of the statement made by Syed Ashraf, the US department of state said its current relations with Bangladesh is better than anytime in the past. A debate gained ground in the political circles about possible detrimental effect of the statement. Some people said the US does not show instant reaction while many others said the influence of that country on Bangladesh decreased significantly. The regional powers are a matter of more concern to Bangladesh. Such statement of Syed Ashraf was followed by somersault of politicians. Several diplomats said they had known information from ruling circles before it was published in the newspaper next day. Some BNP leaders termed positive comment of DW Mozena as his personal stance in the dying days of his service here. They claimed Mozena’s statement does not postulate the true stance of the USA. The BNP leaders further said Washington sticks to its previous position. But the ruling party leaders rejected the above claim pointing out the significance of the Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue held October 30 for not including any word like “democracy” and “election” in their joint statement. Such dialogue is the highest forum for discussing all relevant topics concerning the either states. In the post January 5 polls, the partnership dialogue was meaningful for the both countries. But the US did not raise the issue of election. Moreover, the US termed the visit of Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud being a part of the government assumed power through “undeniably flawed” as important. A foreign diplomat said their negative comment sometimes does not manifest their actual position. They have to make statement in line with their respective government and people. It is mere lip service. Although diplomats sometimes make negative comment to fulfill the agenda of their sending states, they work acting upon the pulse of host country. That the statement and work of the diplomats are different was seen on many previous occasions. Sources said the modern diplomacy has changed with criticism and good relations running together. Last week, the opposition leaders were astonished at the cordial conversation between ruling party leaders and DW Mozena. The ruling party representatives even included such a leader who critically slated the USA in the parliament and outside. The worry and good relations of the US are coexistent. Intense ties are being maintained at the political level. Mozena is the person who called for a midterm poll before monsoon at may-June at briefing organised by the government for the foreign diplomats on January 16. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam termed such expectation of the US as being” too ambitious.” After 10 days of last election on January 16, a proposal adopted in the European Parliament called for holding election, if all legal political parties agreed. Jean Lambert, chairperson of the European Parliament delegation for relations with countries of South Asia played the vital role in submitting the proposition. After two months during her Dhaka visit, she said early election can only be held if all political parties reach a consensus. At a press conference in Dhaka on December 10 last, she clearly said they are not saying about new or early election. Rather, they are encouraging the political parties to start discussion regarding the future election process. The government is considering the issues positively as in a proposal of January 16 last the European Parliament emphasised the trial of war crimes and urged BNP to keep away from Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefajat-e Islam. Ahead of January 5 election, William Hana, the then ambassador of the European Union to Dhaka said a new chapter may arise after the election. A number of ambassadors including William Hana apprehended political confrontation in a briefing organised by government for the foreign diplomats on January 16 last. On January 19, replying to a question whether EU will work with the new government of Bangladesh, William Hana said the relations of both sides are continuing for long time. Later, on July 16, she told journalists that as part of the continuous relations, the grant of EU is increasing 4 per cent in the next seven years. Diplomatic sources said they mostly emphasise the security issue. EU is satisfied over the visible improved security situation of the days compared to the past days of election on January 5. But the reality is that no dialogue has yet been started among the political parties for the next election process. In this regard, the clear stand of the government is- ‘there is no scope to go beyond the constitution’. Diplomatic sources said the foreigners can encourage or create pressure for sitting in dialogue. But the political parties have to reach an agreement. The foreigners will also not fix the issue of discussion. The urge for dialogue is not very strong at the moment as the political situation is quite calm now. On the other hand, the politicians are not responding to it. Diplomatic sources said the government’s negative or wrong decision can worsen the situation. Relating to the increase of gas and electricity tariff they said the general people will be affected due to this increment. Those who felt safe in the stable situation after January 5 will also evaluate government’s activities. This may lead dissatisfaction towards government’s activities. The opposition may use this issue to initiate any activity in favour of general people. The diplomatic sources also said foreigners are interested to do business with this country. For this purpose they expect safe and stable environment. As long as their investment and interest is preserved, no matter what they say practically there will not be any significant effect of it. Despite some big decisions of the government and some exceptional incidents the situation is quite identical. Those who talk about democracy they are also partially or intensively related to autocracy and monarchy. There is not scope to call the January 5 election as invalid. Bangladesh is very important to USA and western countries due to strategic reasons. No one wants to worsen the relationship with this country. To what extent it was logical to boycott the election by BNP led alliance parties is now a big question to foreigners.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Foreigners won’t support violent movement:Daily Sun
r the opposition’s success at all. He said they have been informed that BNP-led alliance is planning to launch a movement centring January 5. Against this backdrop, the Western powers have made their stance clear saying that the movement has to be peaceful. They will not support, under any circumstances, destructive or violent movements like those of the pre-January 5 days. Sources concerned stated that in a meeting with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia recently, a Western diplomat wanted to know how is possible the fall of the government the party is speaking of. In reply to this, a senior BNP Leader present there hinted at strong movement. Then that western displomat said, they expect peaceful programme. They do not want any kind of violence. When the issue of dialogue came up at the meeting it was said on behalf of BNP that they are ready to sit in dialogue. The western diplomat wanted to know which issues BNP want to discuss at the dialogue. BNP’s reply to this was that after sitting in the dialogue agenda will be determined in view of the situation. Western sources said, they were very much disappointed to know that the party does not have any agenda at all. The support of the Western power is solicited at different times to establish strong democracy in Bangladeshi. But there is a question whether it is possible by them to materialize the aspiration if India does not agree. Delhi had strong support for holding the January 5 polls in time. Against the backdrop of such reality, interference in the matter of holding early elections may spark big controversy and reaction, this idea is also getting stronger among the Western powers. The Western countries including USA and European Union (EU) did not send observers to 5 January elections. Although US had issued statement terming the elections highly faulty, the present version of Dhaka and Washington is that the partnership of the two countries has become more deep, strong and extensive than any time in the past. The outgoing ambassador of US Dan W Mozena said at a function in Dhaka even on Saturday last that the degree of US partnership with Bangladesh is getting stronger everyday. This is not the matter of quibbling of diplomatic words. He said this taking into consideration the real perspective. Such comment of Mozena on US relations and partnership with Bangladesh is not new. Yet his latest comment is more significant than these of the past. Specially, when different circles including BNP apprehend strains in Bangladesh- US relations consequent upon the criticism of US assistant secretary of state for south and central Asian affairs Nisa Desai Biswal by local government minister Syed Ashraful Islam. Those who drew the attention of US state department in Washington to Syed Ashraf’s comment terming Nisha Desai as ‘two-party minister’ also did not get any direct response in this regard. They have only been told that Washington knows the matter. Only he who said this can explain the matter. Ruling out any possible impact of the statement made by Syed Ashraf, the US department of state said its current relations with Bangladesh is better than anytime in the past. A debate gained ground in the political circles about possible detrimental effect of the statement. Some people said the US does not show instant reaction while many others said the influence of that country on Bangladesh decreased significantly. The regional powers are a matter of more concern to Bangladesh. Such statement of Syed Ashraf was followed by somersault of politicians. Several diplomats said they had known information from ruling circles before it was published in the newspaper next day. Some BNP leaders termed positive comment of DW Mozena as his personal stance in the dying days of his service here. They claimed Mozena’s statement does not postulate the true stance of the USA. The BNP leaders further said Washington sticks to its previous position. But the ruling party leaders rejected the above claim pointing out the significance of the Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue held October 30 for not including any word like “democracy” and “election” in their joint statement. Such dialogue is the highest forum for discussing all relevant topics concerning the either states. In the post January 5 polls, the partnership dialogue was meaningful for the both countries. But the US did not raise the issue of election. Moreover, the US termed the visit of Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud being a part of the government assumed power through “undeniably flawed” as important. A foreign diplomat said their negative comment sometimes does not manifest their actual position. They have to make statement in line with their respective government and people. It is mere lip service. Although diplomats sometimes make negative comment to fulfill the agenda of their sending states, they work acting upon the pulse of host country. That the statement and work of the diplomats are different was seen on many previous occasions. Sources said the modern diplomacy has changed with criticism and good relations running together. Last week, the opposition leaders were astonished at the cordial conversation between ruling party leaders and DW Mozena. The ruling party representatives even included such a leader who critically slated the USA in the parliament and outside. The worry and good relations of the US are coexistent. Intense ties are being maintained at the political level. Mozena is the person who called for a midterm poll before monsoon at may-June at briefing organised by the government for the foreign diplomats on January 16. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam termed such expectation of the US as being” too ambitious.” After 10 days of last election on January 16, a proposal adopted in the European Parliament called for holding election, if all legal political parties agreed. Jean Lambert, chairperson of the European Parliament delegation for relations with countries of South Asia played the vital role in submitting the proposition. After two months during her Dhaka visit, she said early election can only be held if all political parties reach a consensus. At a press conference in Dhaka on December 10 last, she clearly said they are not saying about new or early election. Rather, they are encouraging the political parties to start discussion regarding the future election process. The government is considering the issues positively as in a proposal of January 16 last the European Parliament emphasised the trial of war crimes and urged BNP to keep away from Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefajat-e Islam. Ahead of January 5 election, William Hana, the then ambassador of the European Union to Dhaka said a new chapter may arise after the election. A number of ambassadors including William Hana apprehended political confrontation in a briefing organised by government for the foreign diplomats on January 16 last. On January 19, replying to a question whether EU will work with the new government of Bangladesh, William Hana said the relations of both sides are continuing for long time. Later, on July 16, she told journalists that as part of the continuous relations, the grant of EU is increasing 4 per cent in the next seven years. Diplomatic sources said they mostly emphasise the security issue. EU is satisfied over the visible improved security situation of the days compared to the past days of election on January 5. But the reality is that no dialogue has yet been started among the political parties for the next election process. In this regard, the clear stand of the government is- ‘there is no scope to go beyond the constitution’. Diplomatic sources said the foreigners can encourage or create pressure for sitting in dialogue. But the political parties have to reach an agreement. The foreigners will also not fix the issue of discussion. The urge for dialogue is not very strong at the moment as the political situation is quite calm now. On the other hand, the politicians are not responding to it. Diplomatic sources said the government’s negative or wrong decision can worsen the situation. Relating to the increase of gas and electricity tariff they said the general people will be affected due to this increment. Those who felt safe in the stable situation after January 5 will also evaluate government’s activities. This may lead dissatisfaction towards government’s activities. The opposition may use this issue to initiate any activity in favour of general people. The diplomatic sources also said foreigners are interested to do business with this country. For this purpose they expect safe and stable environment. As long as their investment and interest is preserved, no matter what they say practically there will not be any significant effect of it. Despite some big decisions of the government and some exceptional incidents the situation is quite identical. Those who talk about democracy they are also partially or intensively related to autocracy and monarchy. There is not scope to call the January 5 election as invalid. Bangladesh is very important to USA and western countries due to strategic reasons. No one wants to worsen the relationship with this country. To what extent it was logical to boycott the election by BNP led alliance parties is now a big question to foreigners.
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