Dhaka agrees to Washington's military aid agreement

[UKBengali]

US sactions many things does not mean other things can not carry on.

US just sanctioned israeli firm responsible for pegasus malware... does it mean somehow the zionist entity has been sanctioned?

All that has happened is RAB has been sanctioned and wont benefit from US aid. US request to audit how its funds has been used is just the continuation of this process. They want to ensure its fund do not go to RAB.

Beyond this status quo remains, US still wants to sell us weapons, be part of quad, buy textile from us where they gets to put on an import tax of 15%, etc. Democracy i would agree is not US primary aim, but it guarantees the most stable form of government that enables economy and nations to grow. BD does not have oil and can not foreseeably have any leverage against US. A progressive, democratic BD is in US interest. The neo-con philliosophy is about money and control... it has nothing to do with religions

Democracy in a 3rd world context is the worst thing in terms of stability and economic growth.

The former “East Asian Tiger” economies all grew rapidly under authoritarian rule and only embraced democracy once they were close to first world status.

BD is only growing well and sustaining it as it has pretty much suspended democracy since 2009.

Having a true democratic system now would be an absolute disaster for a country like BD and despite the downsides, AL rule for another 10-15 years is required till the country becomes more prosperous, educated and has some solid institutions in place.

 

[peagle]

The real question is why the interest in Bangladesh all of a sudden?

After all, we are a little country at the end of a delta with little geopolitical significance.

Bangladesh may be little geography, and tucked away at the end of a delta, as you say.

But with 170 million people and will grow larger still, it is a giant. America would rather have Bangladesh solidly in it's camp, then China's. So, tread carefully.

 

[TigerOfMysore]

Bangladesh will be dragged into big power games, that will eventually be to the detriment of Bangladesh. India will broke no opportunity to make Bangladesh weak and subservient. Just keep watching what is going to happen in the next 10 years, unless BD finds a way to maneuver around this trap.

 

[JawadKKhan]

BTW power greed in south asia is crossing all boundaries . look at haseena she is almost dying . its time she should sit relaxed write books read books enjoy with family . same khalda zia / nawaz shareef / zardari / modi . but they want to stay in power until last breath . its look like they are really backward . what was purpose of their lives ? they have almost destroyed their lives . look where is George W. Bush ? where in tony blayer ? where is Angela mirkle ? it was few years ago everyone watch barak obama day night today he is somewhere enjoying his retired life .but ours have lives of dogs TBH . retired life is god gift for every human .

Obama can retire. We have political dynasties. Our politicians do not retire because its their family business. Plus our politicians enjoy more while ruling, they don't work their a$$ off. They enjoy more during rule plus business flourish.

BTW! i agree with you, if they limit their greed for power then lot can be improved not just for themselves but for the country as well.

 

[Avicenna]

We aren't in dark. Watch the two video specially the statement of Hasina herself. Everything will be clear brother!

@Avicenna

Ex military chief denied it ( cancelation of us visa ) as rumor. However the sanction is actually against IGP and some RAB officials.

Neither IGP nor RAB denied the sanction news , unlike ex military chief General Aziz Ahmed. Make sense which is true or rumor?

No bhai.

We ARE in the dark.

The public news is not reality.

It's in the back rooms with the things we don't know being discussed which is what really matters.

All I know is I see things happening that are conflicting in nature. i.e. Chinese donation of sub to Myanmar, US sanctions on RAB, Russian heli sale, Rafale?, news about BD getting money out of US banks, and then some news about BD signing military agreement with US, multiple trips by BD military personnel to US in the past few months, and yet China building a billion dollar plus submarine base.

The most recent news are the ones most confusing.

So not really sure what's going on.

 

[JawadKKhan]

Democracy in a 3rd world context is the worst thing in terms of stability and economic growth.

The former “East Asian Tiger” economies all grew rapidly under authoritarian rule and only embraced democracy once they were close to first world status.

BD is only growing well and sustaining it as it has pretty much suspended democracy since 2009.

Having a true democratic system now would be an absolute disaster for a country like BD and despite the downsides, AL rule for another 10-15 years is required till the country becomes more prosperous, educated and has some solid institutions in place.

Agreed. Same applies to Pakistan.

Democracy in third world or a country where many are still illiterate, where people can sell their soul for a plate of biryani. A country where people are illiterate to a level that they kill innocent minorities in the name of blasphemy and feel proud about it.. Those people / that nation should never be allowed to elect leaders. They will elect monsters / fuedals / religious fanatics. The so called available leaders are Molanas / fuedal leaders / family business tycoons / family run parties.

I am not in favor of military dictatorship either, But I would want a powerful civilian government which can give a damn to democracy but can suppress this corruption, religious extremism, and take actions which are in favor of country with force if necessary.

So, if a government comes which FIRES all MUFT khoras from government departments and make everyone work,force all ministries to work, force all sectors to properly serve the nation.. That government will no longer be popular as people need easy money and easy life. But in essence that gov will be best for the country. This type of leaders can solve Pakistan's riddle. Someone who can discipline the nation.
Imagine a leader, No one think to take bribe, no one even think to break queue or red signal Or think to throw trash out of the vehicle. Everyone earns with Halal and no muft khoras. Govt losses will turn into profits. China is a prime example, it was infested with corruption / bad practices.. Now its going to be world's super power.

 

[Bilal9]

The real question is why the interest in Bangladesh all of a sudden?

After all, we are a little country at the end of a delta with little geopolitical significance.

Maybe we are more important now than we were before.

No bhai.

We ARE in the dark.

The public news is not reality.

It's in the back rooms with the things we don't know being discussed which is what really matters.

All I know is I see things happening that are conflicting in nature. i.e. Chinese donation of sub to Myanmar, US sanctions on RAB, Russian heli sale, Rafale?, news about BD getting money out of US banks, and then some news about BD signing military agreement with US, multiple trips by BD military personnel to US in the past few months, and yet China building a billion dollar plus submarine base.

The most recent news are the ones most confusing.

So not really sure what's going on.

Shob e bujhlam, magar bhainga kowoner keu naikka....

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

all of this aid money is used for non-offensive weapons and or overseas training programmes organised by US.

 

[Super Falcon]

Which type of military aid hhas been agreed upon

 

[SQ8]

There was a ray of independent foreign policy that was coming out of BD that needed to quell and return it to the vassal state status with India - that has been done. China will not have safe harbor in BD in any form or fit.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

There was a ray of independent foreign policy that was coming out of BD that needed to quell and return it to the vassal state status with India - that has been done. China will not have safe harbor in BD in any form or fit.

This is the one cost of being a good global citizen (read: economically integrated into the world markets). You don't have leverage unless you're a huge market and/or a critical carbon fuel supplier. There are rare situations where geo-strategic positioning can buy you temporary leverage (e.g. Pakistan in the 1980s or 2000s), but permanent credibility takes a long time to build.

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

US just sanctioned israeli firm responsible for pegasus malware... does it mean somehow the zionist entity has been sanctioned?

they also sanctioned the Saudis for Kashoggi murder. I suspect that this is a new Biden admin initiative
All the aid receivers not just BD will have to sign this agreement to get whatever aid they get.

They have our balls in a vice-grip.

America has everyone by the.

be part of quad

we are not joining any quad or whatever they call it.

 

[mb444]

There was a ray of independent foreign policy that was coming out of BD that needed to quell and return it to the vassal state status with India - that has been done. China will not have safe harbor in BD in any form or fit.

This is yet to be seen. BD will become a middle power within a decade and india has very little leverage.

US will push buttons where it can on behalf of india. But at the end of the day BD wont align itself to indias interest. It wont align itself to chinas interest either. There is more than enough room for BD to maintain strategic ambiguity. It is inconceivable that in a china india conflict BD would support either. Everyone knows this. Even US will keep out of it.

Only if there is a direct conflict between US and China and that is not conceivable, would happen in the south china sea. In that case BD will remain completely neutral in public and completely in US side in private.

These developments are being made too much off. BD is US centric, has been a long time, if china comes in with loans for infastructure development we will gladly take it but BD is not in the chinese camp, rohingya debacle proved it.

The status quo has not moved even an inch and wont for the foreseeable future.

 

[Bilal9]

Which type of military aid hhas been agreed upon

I don't think it is a discussion on new Military Aid to Bangladesh.

The news report has been misunderstood.

It is the US asking for accountability and precise auditing on US Military Aid given so far to various military branches (including RAB) in Bangladesh.

They are asking for numbers from Bangladesh so they can assess whether the aid given was helpful in human rights violations committed by RAB in Bangladesh and to see whether that aid will be provided again in the future given the circumstances.

 

[The Ronin]

Didn't US just sanctioned your ex military chief ?

You accepted the offer so easily....hug

So you sealed the deal by accepting the carrot part of the time tested 'carrot and stick policy'. Welcome to the club and be ready for the stick part level 2.

Under this deal, we'll only have to give them details about who is getting their aid, how's that being spent and if we are using that aid to violate human rights. THAT'S IT. I don't know why everyone is going bonkers about it. It's not like BD is heavily reliant on US military aid. Those aids comes in small amount. No big deal.

The real question is why the interest in Bangladesh all of a sudden?

After all, we are a little country at the end of a delta with little geopolitical significance.

Definitely something is going on. Most probably it's about military deal as they can't compete with China in development projects and investments. They lost the attack helicopter deal. If what i heard is right then they'll lose MRCA deal too to their recent rival arms exporter.