Photo: TDM
Bangladesh is garnering growing interest in the ground of global diplomacy amid the growing interest of big power players like the United States of America, European Union, China, Russia, India and Japan ahead of the country’s next national elections.
The apparent opposing stand of the US and China regarding this country has come to the fore in recent days as China hogged headlines officially supporting the Bangladesh government’s protest against the US ‘policy of sanction’.
Diplomats and foreign relations experts are of the view that although the incumbent Awami League-led government has developed good relations with eastern countries like China, Russia and Japan following the ‘look-east’ policy, Dhaka is going slow and trying to tackle every single country carefully.
They said there is a strong pressure from the US on the current government to hold a free, fair and inclusive election. Through the recently announced new visa policy, the US has virtually put intensified pressure on the incumbent AL government while a letter from six Members of European Parliament (MEPs) only added to the pressure.
Former Ambassador of Bangladesh to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed said China wants to change the government's position regarding the United States. That's why, they made an official statement.
“But it should be kept in mind that all countries are our friends. And so, no advice should be given publicly in such a way, which can cause harm to us.”
He also said the US does not advise all countries equally. They do not question the human rights or democracy of their partner countries.
“As a result, no matter how powerful the country is, we should solve our problems without depending on them.
That is, the problems of our country should not be solved through others’ intervention,” he said, adding, “The people of Bangladesh should solve the country's problems themselves.”
Of late, a certain degree of discomfort has increased after the letter of six representatives of the European Parliament was published. Apart from free and fair elections, these six representatives demanded the release of BNP leader Khaleda Zia, hold elections under a caretaker government and more justification of recruitment process for Bangladeshi representatives in the UN peacekeeping missions.
Although the foreign ministry has not responded officially on the matter, ministry sources said, there is a sense of serious unease inside.
Officials said that western countries have a routine suggestion for elections but for the first time they have mentioned some specific issues which is very significant to the foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, political analysts say, by allowing the open demonstration of Jamaat-e-Islami in the capital, the ruling party is trying to send a signal to the influential countries including the US that the government has allowed equal freedom of expression in the country. Therefore, even if the next election is held under the government, there is no risk in particular.
When asked, former ambassador Humayun Kabir said, “World powers have been engaged in a competition regarding Bangladesh. If this competition continues, we will suffer. We need to avoid such competitions.”
Especially, he viewed, the recent comment of China, focusing on Bangladesh, has created a lot of problems for us. Until now, the US suspected that Bangladesh was leaning towards China. But with Beijing's latest comments, the issue may now become the firm belief of the US.”
To escape from this danger, the country should solve its own problems in a peaceful way, he suggested.
Professor Dr Lailufar Yasmin, Chairperson of International Relations Department at Dhaka University, said, "In a world that is increasingly being seen in a black and white manner, Bangladesh sides with its own national interest and priorities, which dictates it befriends both the US and China. Bangladesh believes in the rising trend in Asian neutrality and equi-connections with the Great Powers as part of its two core foreign policy objectives: maintaining and safeguarding its national sovereignty and ensuring development and progress for its people."
Both the US and China are equally important in pursuing its core foreign policy objectives, and Bangladesh shall maintain such an objective in its path, she noted.
Asked, Professor Shahab Enam Khan of Jahangirnagar University's International Relations Department said, "Bangladesh is increasingly becoming an important foreign policy priority for China and the US. Due to its geopolitical position and the changing preferences of these two superpowers, Bangladesh now needs to rethink about its 'balancing' policy."
Also currently the Research Director at local think tank BEI (Bangladesh Enterprise Institute), Shahab stressed that Bangladesh must craft solid political institutions, be it the ruling party or the opposition, to respond to the evolving geopolitical competition between China and the US. Henceforth, he noted, trade and political institutions will require reforms in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic sources said the US in the past used to express its attitude towards Bangladesh through India. Their expectations and demands used to come to Dhaka through Delhi. However, recently the policy of the US government has changed. Therefore, even Delhi was not able to bridge the distance between Dhaka and Washington.
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka said the US is now leaning towards Japan as its dependence on India reduces. That is why, they observed, Japan is negotiating with Dhaka on behalf of Washington. They feel that the issue has become clearer after the Japanese ambassador's recent meeting with the government and the BNP in Dhaka.
Several diplomats said China’s recent statement in support of the government's position cannot be taken ‘positively’. They termed it a ‘Chinese method of bad diplomacy’.
TDM/FMT
