Global Watch | How US is meddling in Bangladesh elections

As Bangladesh is gearing up for its 12th parliamentary election, otherwise known as Jatiyo Sangsad, on 7 January next year, the country has been grappling with a major political crisis for quite some time with the main Opposition party, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), deciding to not participate in this election. The Opposition’s demand is to hold the election under a neutral caretaker government instead of the present government-administered Election Commission, to ensure it is free and fair. While election is supposed to be an internal matter of any sovereign nation, it doesn’t seem to be so in Dhaka’s case. Since 2022, external actors, predominantly Western countries, have been intervening in Bangladesh’s election process — the United States being the most overt one. Following October 28 violence amid demand for free and fair elections in Bangladesh, the US has expressed “concern” and “condemned” the incident as “political violence”, while the European Union (EU) was “deeply saddened” over what it called “violence”. Seven countries viz, Australia, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, Norway, United Kingdom and United States have issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern over the violence.” The question is why are western countries meddling in the Bangladesh election? In international relations, nothing happens in vacuum and no actions by any sovereign nations are taken without self-interests. The US’ intervention in other countries (Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Vietnam, to name a few) to instil “democracy” are cases in point. Now, with the US using the same rhetoric in Bangladesh, constantly insisting on the need for Bangladesh’s election to be “free and fair” raises concern about Washington’s actual intention and interests in Bangladesh. Historically, the US had not been in favour of the creation of independent Bangladesh under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and has maintained close relations with Khaleda Zia and the BNP, a sentiment carried from since pre 1971 Pakistan times. The US has been a significant player in brokering a settlement in 2007 between the BNP and the Awami League which resulted in the BNP-led government’s stepping down and the eventual rise of Sheikh Hasina to power in 2009. In the previous two elections (2014 and 2018) in Bangladesh, the US expressed “disappointment” and “concern” about the election results which were largely alleged to be unfair and rigged. Nevertheless, it continued to cordially work with the Hasina government. However, in this election, one can notice a shift in attitude and in tone. A number of steps taken in the last couple of years by the US also connote that this is not a sudden shift. It is important to note that Bangladesh is highly dependent on the US economically. The US is the largest foreign investor in Bangladesh, third largest trading partner and largest market of Bangladesh’s ready-made garments and biggest investor in Bangladesh’s energy sector. Moreover, Bangladesh is also the largest recipient of US assistance in Asia and a leading collaborator in the field of education, research and intellectual property. The growing Chinese investments in infrastructural projects is perceived by Washington DC as Dhaka’s increasing tilt towards Beijing. Bangladesh’s strategic location makes it a significant player in the Indo Pacific region, and hence, it has become a target for influence by two major competing powers; the US and China. In 2020, the then US Deputy Secretary of State invited Dhaka to join the Quad and wanted it to be part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) established in early 2022. However, Dhaka refused to join any military alliance like Quad. Meanwhile, in 2021, then Chinese envoy warned Bangladesh from joining any military alliance as it would lead to “substantial damage” to (Sino-Bangladeshi) bilateral relations, to which Dhaka curtly responded that “we decide our own foreign policy”. Thus, Bangladesh tried to maintain a cordial and balanced relations between the two major competing powers, without overtly siding with one over the other and following the foreign policy principle of “friendship to all and malice to none.” This is officially reflected in Dhaka’s Indo-Pacific outlook released in April. The suspicion and mistrust between Bangladesh and the US stems from the latter’s criticism of Awami League government’s poor human rights record and its intensifying vocalisation of the country’s democracy issues. In 2021, the US imposed sanctions on Bangladesh’s elite paramilitary force; the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and seven of its current and former members for their alleged extra-judicial killings and disappearances. In December 2022, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas visited homes and met families of victims of enforced disappearances, including the house of BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon. Haas’s actions triggered reaction from Awami League leaders who accused Haas of supporting the BNP and meddling in the country’s domestic affairs. Washington further refrained from inviting Bangladesh in its Democracy Summits in December 2021 and March 2023. In February, the US State Department counsellor Derek Chollet expressed concern that erosion of democracy in Bangladesh would limit Washington DC’s cooperation with Dhaka, reiterating its desire of seeing free, fair and inclusive elections. During Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen’s visit to Washington in April, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned Momen that the world is looking to Bangladesh for the next election to make sure Bangladesh sets up a strong example of a free and fair poll. The warnings translated into actions in May when the US announced a new visa policy for Bangladeshi citizens whereby the Washington DC is to take steps to impose visa restrictions to persons and members of their immediate family who are “responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.” Recently, the US introduced Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards globally, which will allow America to impose sanctions, penalties and visa restrictions without having to go to the United Nations (UN) first, raising concerns among Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exporters of its ramifications, considering US’s position as the largest export destination of Bangladesh’s RMG. Bangladesh did not remain a silent spectator to the US’ warnings and actions. In April, Sheikh Hasina accused the US of seeking a regime change in Bangladesh, an “undemocratic action”, whereby “they (the US) are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence.” Tussle of words were reported from Bangladesh officials, pointing weakness in America’s democracy and calling America “a bunch of hypocrites” and not in a position to lecture Bangladesh on democracy. Hasina’s remarks showed US’ dissatisfaction during her trip to Washington DC in April end to celebrate 50 years of partnership with the World Bank when none of President Biden’s administration officials took out time to meet her. On the other hand, Dhaka’s response to US imposed visa restrictions showed that it wasn’t bothered, while reiterating its promise to conduct free elections, the electoral process to be under strict vigilance, including by the Election Commission-accredited international observers, and taking necessary measures to ensure unlawful practice or interference by any individual, group or entity in the conduct of election. It is clear that the US is hinting towards a regime change in Bangladesh. This is reflected in the US-based Human Rights Watch report released recently to assess the election scenario in the country that accused the government of “claiming to commit free and fair elections with diplomatic partners while simultaneously the state authorities are filling prisons with members of the political opposition.” However, in order to meet its strategic interests, the US is also indirectly projecting Islamist fundamentalists like Jamaat-e-Islami who are in opposition as victims of state violence. Such tactics have further precipitated the political crisis in Bangladesh. History has witnessed the repercussions faced by Afghanistan because of America’s support for Mujahideen fighters in 1989 that led to the rise of Taliban as we see today. Pushing its strategic interests under the garb of democracy promotion has been an age-old tactic of America. Therefore, the US meddling in Bangladesh’s election should be viewed with concern. The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. He tweets @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_’s views._ Read all the  Latest News,  Trending News,  Cricket News,  Bollywood News, India News and  Entertainment News here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.