https://sputniknews.in/20231102/us-envoy-seen-backing-deadly-anti-govt-protests-in-bangladesh-ruling-party-official-5202558.html
US Envoy Seen Backing Deadly Anti-Gov't Protests in Bangladesh: Ruling Party Official
US Envoy Seen Backing Deadly Anti-Gov't Protests in Bangladesh: Ruling Party Official
Sputnik India
An official from Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League party has accused American Ambassador in Dhaka of giving a “go-ahead” to an opposition protest that later turned violent.
2023-11-02T18:39+0530
2023-11-02T18:39+0530
2023-11-02T18:39+0530
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An official from Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League party has accused the U.S. Ambassador in Dhaka of giving a “go-ahead” to an opposition protest that later turned violent. Khan, who has previously also been a Deputy Serjeant at Arms, Bangladesh Parliament, claimed that the US Embassy in Dhaka subsequently "disowned" the so-called advisor. He noted that the US Embassy has since stated that no American diplomat visited the BNP office.Khan accused the Biden administration of supporting the BNP in the upcoming federal election scheduled for January.He pointed out to Vienna Convention which prohibits foreign diplomats from interfering in internal affairs of the country of their posting.The protests by BNP and its ideological ally Jamaat-e-Islami party turned on 28 October was called to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and instate a caretaker government before the next year’s federal election.The protests turned violent as opposition demonstrators clashed with ruling party supporters, who had organized pro-government demonstrations the same day. “The opposition activists attacked the house of Chief Justice, burnt down houses and vandalized cars before they were reined in by the police,” Khan stated.Political tensions between Awami League and BNP have been on the rise in recent weeks, amid claims of government crackdown against opposition politicians in the lead-up to the federal vote.US Adding ‘Fuel to the Fire’, Khan SaysKhan accused the US of “adding fuel to the fire” which was exacerbating the political tensions in Bangladesh.He said that the stance adopted by the US in the current domestic political row of Bangladesh was comparable to former President Barack Obama’s position on the Maidan protests in Ukraine in 2014.Obama had at the time backed anti-government protests in Kiev, which eventually led to the ouster of then President Victor Yanukovych and the installation of a pro-western government.The Awami League politician also cautioned that the Bangladesh won’t be allowed to be turned into a “proxy” of the US.The US is trying to impose its own model of democracy but we as a country have the right to decide what direction to take,” he concluded.Bangladesh-US TensionsIn the last few months, the Biden administration has consistently urged the Bangladeshi authorities to hold “free and fair elections”.In an unusual move for a foreign diplomat, the US Ambassador in Bangladesh even met the country’s Chief Election Commissioner last month. In the meeting.Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Hasina has objected to the American envoy’s meetings with officials.At a press conference last week, she called out the Biden administration for its “hypocrisy”.
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US Envoy Seen Backing Deadly Anti-Gov't Protests in Bangladesh: Ruling Party Official
The Biden administration has been accused by Bangladeshi authorities of interfering in south Asian nation's internal political process ahead of the federal election in January.
An official from Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League party has accused the U.S. Ambassador in Dhaka of giving a “go-ahead” to an opposition protest that later turned violent.
“On 28 October, a US citizen named Mian Arafi, claiming to be as an adviser to US President Joe Biden, visited the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) office in Dhaka, just after the violent protests. It was a clear attempt to add fuel into fire and hurt the morale of security personnel. The said adviser had several meetings at American Club in Dhaka before visiting BNP office," Squadron Leader (retired) Sadrul Ahmed Khan, a Member of Finance and Planning Affairs sub-committee, Awami League, told Sputnik India.
Khan, who has previously also been a Deputy Serjeant at Arms, Bangladesh Parliament, claimed that the US Embassy in Dhaka subsequently "disowned" the so-called advisor. He noted that the US Embassy has since stated that no American diplomat visited the BNP office.
Khan accused the Biden administration of supporting the BNP in the upcoming federal election scheduled for January.
He pointed out to Vienna Convention which prohibits foreign diplomats from interfering in internal affairs of the country of their posting.
“There is a widespread perception in Bangladesh that the US, through Ambassador Haas, is backing the BNP and its Islamist allies,” the Awami League official stated.
The protests by BNP and its ideological ally Jamaat-e-Islami party turned on 28 October was called to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and instate a caretaker government before the next year’s federal election.
The protests turned violent as opposition demonstrators clashed with ruling party supporters, who had organized pro-government demonstrations the same day.
Around 11 people, including security personnel, were killed and hundreds of political activists were injured on the day, according to reports.
“The opposition activists attacked the house of Chief Justice, burnt down houses and vandalized cars before they were reined in by the police,” Khan stated.
Political tensions between Awami League and BNP have been on the rise in recent weeks, amid claims of government crackdown against opposition politicians in the lead-up to the federal vote.
US Adding ‘Fuel to the Fire’, Khan Says
Khan accused the US of “adding fuel to the fire” which was exacerbating the political tensions in Bangladesh.
“It is very unprofessional on part of the US Ambassador to be seen as backing a political party,” he said.
He said that the stance adopted by the US in the current domestic political row of Bangladesh was comparable to former President Barack Obama’s position on the Maidan protests in Ukraine in 2014.
Obama had at the time backed anti-government protests in Kiev, which eventually led to the ouster of then President Victor Yanukovych and the installation of a pro-western government.
“People who have been observing the situation in Bangladesh are comparing it to the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine in 2014. At the time, US President Barack Obama backed the anti-government protest,” remarked Khan.
The Awami League politician also cautioned that the Bangladesh won’t be allowed to be turned into a “proxy” of the US.
“No nation has the right to force their choices on us. It is only the people of Bangladesh, who have the sole right to decide the course the country must take.
The US is trying to impose its own model of democracy but we as a country have the right to decide what direction to take,” he concluded.
In the last few months, the Biden administration has consistently urged the Bangladeshi authorities to hold “free and fair elections”.
In an unusual move for a foreign diplomat, the US Ambassador in Bangladesh even met the country’s Chief Election Commissioner last month. In the meeting.
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Hasina has objected to the American envoy’s meetings with officials.
At a press conference last week, she called out the Biden administration for its “hypocrisy”.
“Is US President Biden holding dialogue with Mr Trump? If Biden sits with Trump for dialogue, then I will hold the dialogue with opposition,” the Bangladesh Prime Minister asked.
