"Donald Lu is a hated figure in India due to his interference attempts in Indian democracy. Last year, he entertained Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi at the White House," Dr Anant Bhagwat, the Founder-President of Global Strategic Policy Foundation Pune (GSPFP), a national security and foreign policy think tank, told Sputnik India.
US Failed Miserably in its Attempts to Interfere in Bangladesh: Awami League Official
Commenting on the senior US diplomat's visit, Squadron Leader (retired) Sadrul Ahmed Khan, a Member of Finance and Planning Affairs sub-committee of Awami League, said that the US has consistently failed to interfere in Bangladesh's internal affairs despite repeated attempts.
US Attempts to Court Bangladesh Against China
Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, a former advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told Sputnik India that Lu's visit was part of ongoing American efforts to lobby Dhaka against Beijing, which is Bangladesh's largest trading partner.
"The US wants Bangladesh's support amid an intensifying competition with China in Indo-Pacific. However, we have been clear that we would maintain good relations with all the powers, primarily to serve our own national interest," Chowdhury said.
"The US piled up pressure on us before the election on various pretexts, mainly on the issue of human rights. However, the US seems to have realised the extent of support enjoyed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the country, as proven in the election results. That's why the tone and tenor of Lu is markedly different than what it was before the election," the former PM aide said.
"The US tried to put Bangladesh's government under stress by tacitly backing opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) demand that the election be held under a caretaker set-up, which is against our constitution," added Chowdhury.