Hillary Clinton due in Dhaka on May 5

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

26 Apr 2012 09:21:22 AM Thursday BdST

Hillary due in Dhaka on May 5

Hillary due in Dhaka on May 5

Shihab Uddin Kislu, New York Correspondent
banglanews24.com

NEW YORK: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Dhaka on May 5 to discuss matters related to bilateral interest of the two countries.

On Wednesday evening, an official of US state department told banglanews, “Hillary Clinton is likely to visit Bangladesh on May 5 but her tour schedule is yet to be finalized.”

He said, “The final information and tour schedule of the US Secretary of State will be disclosed within a day or two.”

BDST: 0901 HRS, APR 26, 2012
Edited by:
Tilka Binte Mehtab, Newsroom Editor
Rubaiat Saky, Newsroom Editor

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Hillary Clinton to visit Bangladesh in May

Hillary Clinton to visit Bangladesh in May :: Weekly Blitz

by News Desk
April 26, 2012


Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources in Dhaka though confirms that United States' secretary of states, Hillary Rodham Clinton is scheduled to visit Bangladesh in May 5, 2012 it is clearly signaled by other sources that the US administration may call of the visit considering prevailing volatile political situation Bangladesh as well as international outcry on ruling party's alleged involvement in enforced disappearance of various individuals, which includes the disappearance of opposition leader and former Member of Parliament, M Ilias Ali. Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party as well as a large number of rights groups has already written petitions and letters to the US Department of State seeking its immediate initiatives in putting "substantial pressure" on the ruling party in Bangladesh in stopping enforced disappearance, secret murders and all such forms of heinous crime as well as intimidation of political opponents. Political analysts in Washington say, Hillary Clinton's Bangladesh tour at such a critical time would only give encouragement to the ruling party in continuing its state-patronized terror, which will certainly put huge negative impact on President Barack Obama's re-election run in November this year. It said, "US voters will certainly take the visit of Hillary Clinton to Bangladesh at such crucial timing as Obama administration's endorsement and support towards ruling Bangladesh Awami League, which already is accused of massive corruption, nepotism, vandalism, enforced disappearance, secret murders and numerous forms of state-patronized crime."

Another source inside MOFA told Weekly Blitz that the Indian administration is pursuing Hillary Clinton's Dhaka tour on May 5 as on the same day Indian minister Pranab Mukherjee is also scheduled to arrive in Dhaka. It is expected that, Indian government may use Hillary Clinton's influence in getting few more protocols and agreements signed with Bangladesh government, which would unilaterally benefit India. The source further said, the Indian government is also trying to use the US secretary of state in influencing the Bangladeshi opposition parties in accepting participating in next general election under the political government of Bangladesh Awami League.

Though Bangladesh government has leaked the "scoop" of visit of the US secretary of states in May, there had been no such confirmation on this claim from any of the valid diplomatic sources in Washington or Capitol Hill. "There is no such specific date of visit of the US secretary of states to Bangladesh at least in coming weeks", a source said.

 

[eastwatch]

When all options fail, the indian malus runs to their US daddy. What do they take the opposition for. These Bhramins are the most
heinous and despicable among human kind.

You have become unnecessarily excited by comments given by a news reporter in the weekly Blitz. It is just the thought or propaganda by a newspaper. It is funny to believe a US Secretary of State has become the salesperson for a third rate country like India, and she is flying 10,000 km to speak for that country! Here you are believing it, very strange. Better raise up your imagination from something very absurd to near the reality.

It must be so hard for you guys, I almost feel the pain and the frustration, you know to be surrounded from three sides by a country that you hate and to be governed by a govt that's pro that country. OMG life can't be any more miserable. BTW we still have a puppet govt in your country, so no options have failed, not yet. The Brahmins are still controlling you poor souls, and if everything fails we have the crusaders as the last option. Ha ha ha you can't escape the stranglehold that we have on you

You are talking the bigness of your JATPAT infested stupid country. But, in reality, your BIG country is in fear of a little BD and has amassed 300,000 troops near our border to get rid of that fear. Sleep well Indians without fear. But, do one mistake, we will blow the gas out of your soft belly in Assam.

 

[Kesang]

You have become unnecessarily excited by comments given by a news reporter in the weekly Blitz. It is just the thought or propaganda by a newspaper. It is funny to believe a US Secretary of State has become the salesperson for a third rate country like India, and she is flying 10,000 km to speak for that country! Here you are believing it, very strange. Better raise up your imagination from something very absurd to near the reality.



You are talking the bigness of your JATPAT infested stupid country. But, in reality, your BIG country is in fear of a little BD and has amassed 300,000 troops near our border to get rid of that fear. Sleep well Indians without fear. But, do one mistake, we will blow the gas out of your soft belly in Assam.

Off-coarse. We fear from Bangladesh's WMD " refugees " can do and doing lot of damage our economy and law & order.

 

[wild_fire1979]

It must be so hard for you guys, I almost feel the pain and the frustration, you know to be surrounded from three sides by a country that you hate and to be governed by a govt that's pro that country. OMG life can't be any more miserable. BTW we still have a puppet govt in your country, so no options have failed, not yet. The Brahmins are still controlling you poor souls, and if everything fails we have the crusaders as the last option. Ha ha ha you can't escape the stranglehold that we have on you

Bhai kyun unki gand mein batti de raha hain?

 

[kalu_miah]

Another example of RAWamy League getting their orders from South Block. What does USA have to do with India? Why is RAWamy League mixing up the two?

 

[wild_fire1979]

Sleep well Indians without fear. But, do one mistake, we will blow the gas out of your soft belly in Assam.

Yes! I am very scared, now more than ever when we have PT-6 aircrafts leading the front

 

[HappinessMark!]

Welcome Aunty To BD

...Ab Allah khair rukay BD bro ki, can't come without gains surely in the regions..they have make up mind to assign some role to BD in the region who is Alhamdollilah silently, rapidly progressing (MAy my doubts not true ameen!).......yeh qoum jin ky ghootny ho jay, tuo naa niglee jayee na uglee jayee...look our bright example we are hosting them from decades since USSR....

 

[eastwatch]

Welcome Aunty To BD

...Ab Allah khair rukay BD bro ki, can't come without gains surely in the regions..they have make up mind to assign some role to BD in the region who is Alhamdollilah silently, rapidly progressing (MAy my doubts not true ameen!).......yeh qoum jin ky ghootny ho jay, tuo naa niglee jayee na uglee jayee...look our bright example we are hosting them from decades since USSR....

This US Aunti is coming to BD to impose her 'Strategic Partnership' with a small country like BD. It is very difficult for us to guess what this partnership means. Perhaps, it is not against any country of the region, but, it may be against the religious extremists from BD to Afghanistan. Communism and socialism are dead. But, USA is worried about the spreading of fanatism, its movement as well as armed struggle. By employing many devices, USA wants to bottle up the fanatics inside their native countries.

 

[TopCat]

Welcome Aunty To BD

...Ab Allah khair rukay BD bro ki, can't come without gains surely in the regions..they have make up mind to assign some role to BD in the region who is Alhamdollilah silently, rapidly progressing (MAy my doubts not true ameen!).......yeh qoum jin ky ghootny ho jay, tuo naa niglee jayee na uglee jayee...look our bright example we are hosting them from decades since USSR....

Hahahaha. Dont think we are that easy. BD not going to eat it all.

Recent Trade agreement (TIFCA) is a good example. US had to come to our terms and we did not bend over for the last 20 years. Now that they agreed to our principle, we are ready to sign it. Period.

 

[Md Akmal]

Hillary trip may change political scenario

Khaleda’s deadline hits dead end today
Lawmen working hard to find Ilyas, claims IGP
→ S M Mizanur Rahman
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip to Bangladesh may change the country’s latest torrid political scenario, including a possible street confrontation in the aftermath of opposition BNP’s four-day ultimatum for the government to trace its disappeared leader Ilyas Ali. “As Hillary Clinton will visit Bangladesh on May 5-6, it wouldn’t be wise for us to place before the world community a trouble-torn country,” a highly placed source in the main opposition party told daily sun Friday.
According to him, the US foreign minister is expected to hold meeting with the ruling Awami League government as well opposition BNP to review robust US-Bangladesh cooperation across the full range of political, economic and security matters.

“I think Hillary’s visit would have an impact on BNP’s ongoing movement,” a member of BNP standing committee, preferring not be named, said about the healing effect of the upcoming Hillary trip. BNP chairperson and opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s four-day ultimatum to go for hard-line action programmes, unless her party’s disappeared leader is retuned by the deadline, hits the dead end today where they have to act to bounce back or make a pause.

Different law-enforcing agencies on drive are yet to trace the whereabouts of M Ilyas Ali, a former MP and BNP organising secretary who went missing along with his driver on April 17 midnight. Talking to daily sun Inspector-General of Police Hasan Mahmud Khandker on Friday said law enforcers launched a massive search for the whereabouts of Ilyas Ali. “We are trying our level best and our forces have been working hard round the clock to find Ilyas alive,” the IGP said. Replying to a query about BNP’s deadline, the police chief warned that to maintain law and order the police as well as other law enforcers wouldn’t allow any hooliganism or violence in the streets. The IGP on Thursday came under criticism from a parliamentary watchdog body for his reported reluctance to discuss the abduction of the BNP leader.

BNP acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told daily sun Friday that they would launch tougher movement today if the government failed to return Ilyas within the ultimatum timeline. “The country will have to witness a flame of movement from Sunday if Ilyas Ali is not returned by tomorrow (Saturday),” he warned. Replying to a query he added: tough programmes will be announced by the BNP chairperson. If Ilyas Ali is not returned by tomorrow, our party chairperson will sit with her senior colleagues to discuss the next course of action,” the BNP spokesman added.“BNP chairperson is likely to announce a 48-hour nonstop countrywide shutdown from tomorrow (Sunday,” a senior BNP leader told daily sun on Friday. Khaleda Zia made her stand clear that government agencies’ men were involved in ‘abducting’ her party leader, saying that it is the responsibility of the ruling Awami League to find out Ilyas and his driver.

On Thursday ruling Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the government wants to rescue Ilyas alive and has been working hard to that end. While Khaleda asked the government to return to the path of peace and democracy, shunning what she said the nasty path of terrorism, secret killings and forced disappearance, Syed Ashraf said Awami League never believes in the politics of killing. “There is no scope to do politics with the disappearance of Ilyas.”

Earlier, BNP observed three days of countrywide dawn-to-dusk general strike (hartal), staged demonstrations and formed human chain demanding immediate return of Ilyas Ali BNP standing committee member Khandker Mosharraf Hossain on Friday said if Ilyas is not traced alive by the deadline set by party chairperson Khaleda Zia, they would be compelled to go for the movement demanding resignation of the government. “By abducting Ilyas Ali, actually the ruling Awami League is plotting a conspiracy to banish democracy,” he told a human chain formed in front of the National Press Club in the city.

Mosharraf added: Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraf’s statement proved that the government knows about the whereabouts of Ilyas Ali. Another standing committee member of the party, Lt-general (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said that if government failed to present Ilyas Ali within the ultimatum, the country would get into trouble and uncertainty.

“And the government will have to take all the responsibility on its shoulders for any untoward incident,” he forewarned. He added: “We know that hartal causes immense sufferings to the people but we do not have any other option.” The former army chief also said if the government wants cooperation from BNP’s side, the party is ready. But the government is to take the initiative.

 

[HappinessMark!]

This US Aunti is coming to BD to impose her 'Strategic Partnership' with a small country like BD. It is very difficult for us to guess what this partnership means. Perhaps, it is not against any country of the region, but, it may be against the religious extremists from BD to Afghanistan. Communism and socialism are dead. But, USA is worried about the spreading of fanatism, its movement as well as armed struggle. By employing many devices, USA wants to bottle up the fanatics inside their native countries.

Hahahaha. Dont think we are that easy. BD not going to eat it all.

Recent Trade agreement (TIFCA) is a good example. US had to come to our terms and we did not bend over for the last 20 years. Now that they agreed to our principle, we are ready to sign it. Period.

Very Best of luck for the peace and prosperity for my brothers and everyone.

Nothing wrong in partnership...Instead I strongly recommend to have very good terms with every one (multilateral for humany.......perhaps as everything went wrong in my homeland, as a consequence of friendship, and perhaps its psychological thing that human try to blame others of our own mistakes and decisions, we USED to feel good about our friendship at some extent as well. So very best of luck for others with USA ties ....

...But, just my sincere concerns about my muslim brothers, it remindes me of a book writen by Ayoub Khan (president of PK) directed and devoted to Pak-US friendship and its title is enough for ANYONE seeking friedship with other nations (though that book describes the feeling of a president about US in bilateral relations)...Title is just to enough to decipher (but alas our rulers did not understood...should I say WE (including rulers), as I CONFESS I used to be happy with US in the first half of Musharrf's stint)
Title of his book 'Friends not MASTERS'


Warm welcome to any guest to our lands as to our religion and culture :Bangladesh:
Pakistan:

just my opinion...
PEACE!

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Front Page
Hillary's Visit
Trade, defence cooperation top agenda

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=232352

Rezaul Karim

The USA is likely to push for a framework for defence cooperation between Dhaka and Washington during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's May 5-6 visit to Bangladesh.

It will press for signing the much-talked-about Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) and strategic partnership deals with Bangladesh.

Dhaka, however, wants to proceed with caution in respect of signing any deal with Washington, and it is not ready to ink any deal with Washington during Clinton's 24-hour visit.

Duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi apparel to the US market and deportation of Lt Col AM Rashed Chowdhury, condemned killer in Bangabandhu murder case, will figure prominently in the talks between the two sides.

Washington may offer stronger cooperation and partnership in gas exploration, and in power and energy sectors.

As part of her three-nation tour (Bangladesh, India and China), Clinton is expected to arrive in Dhaka at 4:00pm on May 5 and hold meetings with government high-ups, opposition leaders and civil society representatives to discuss US-Bangladesh cooperation in political, economic and security matters.

According to the draft programme schedule, on her arrival, she will first hold talks with her Bangladesh counterpart Dipu Moni at the foreign ministry. They will discuss political, security and economic cooperation between the two nations. The talks will be followed by a joint press conference.

Clinton will later call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discuss a wide range of bilateral issues. The foreign minister will host a dinner in honour of the US Secretary of State.

On May 6, she will hold a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia, Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus and civil society representatives. She is expected to leave Dhaka for Kolkata at about 3:30pm.

They said the top US diplomat would discuss with Dipu Moni the issue of the death of Aminul Islam, a leader of Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, who was picked up and tortured to death allegedly by law enforcers.

International rights bodies strongly condemned the incident and demanded proper probe into his death.

Four US officials yesterday met high-ups at the foreign ministry and discussed issues relating to Clinton's upcoming visit.

Sources said Clinton's meeting with Khaleda will feature many issues including political repression and harassment, disappearance of political leaders, violation of human rights, the caretaker government and the next general election.

Diplomatic sources said her upcoming visit is very crucial and has a special significance in strengthening ties between the two nations.

They said the US that is still unhappy with Prof Yunus' removal from Grameen Bank wants partnership with Bangladesh as it has special strategic importance to the USA in the present global and regional circumstances.

Officials at the foreign and the commerce ministries said Dhaka is yet to decide on signing the Ticfa agreement. It is still scrutinising the deal to figure out its future implications.

The Ticfa promises to protect investments, remove obstacles in bilateral trade and create a forum for discussing issues relating to trade and investment.

Although both the sides reached an understanding over the key issues laid down in the trade deal, Dhaka is yet to complete formalities to ink the agreement.

Similarly, no decision has been made about signing a “strategic partnership” or defence deal with Washington at this moment.

However, senior government officials said there wouldn't be any big problem in completing all procedures to sign an agreement if both the governments wish so.

“In the past, we had completed procedures overnight. So, the possibility of signing agreements during Hillary Clinton's visit cannot be ruled out,” said a government high-up.

Dhaka has proposed forming a joint commission to create a regular forum to discuss issues regarding security cooperation, said government officials.

Diplomatic sources said Washington wants more engagement with Dhaka in the area of security cooperation. The US believes that Bangladesh's role is vital to maintaining security in the Bay of Bengal. Besides, it considers Bangladesh as an active partner in regional counterterrorism efforts, they said.

They said USA's desire to enhance military engagement with Bangladesh is evident in the recent visits by US high-ups, including Andrew J Shapiro, US assistant secretary of state of Political-Military Affairs, and the first-ever Bangladesh-US Dialogue on Security Issues held in Dhaka on April 19.

On April 24, Shapiro said at the Carnegie Endowment Roundtable in Washington, DC that defence ties between the USA and Bangladesh are one of the most robust in South Asia.

“Bangladesh is a key player in maintaining security in the Bay of Bengal. They are an active partner in regional counterterrorism efforts and we are working to enhance their ability to respond to natural disasters,” he said.

“Our cooperation with Bangladesh is a prime example of how US security assistance can play a critically important role in our diplomatic engagement,” Shapiro said at the roundtable.

Diplomatic sources said the USA wants a “strategic partnership” deal with Bangladesh to create a regular forum to discuss issues like counterterrorism, food security, climate change and energy. But it is yet to put forward a formal proposal for signing such an agreement, they said.

Foreign ministry officials said the commerce ministry had sent the Ticfa draft to the Prime Minister's Office for its opinion.

They said the ministry was of the opinion that the government should do an in-depth scrutiny of the Ticfa to know about its future implications and impacts.

“We [the foreign ministry) are not in favour of inking any deal hurriedly. But there are people in the government for signing agreements on trade and defence cooperation without delay to improve Bangladesh-US ties that suffered serious setbacks in recent times,” said a senior government official asking not to be named.

On December 1, last year, Dan Mozena, US ambassador in Dhaka, said at a press conference, “Washington wants to sign the trade agreement, which is moving forward, to create a forum for discussing full range of issues relating to trade and investment.”

 

[TopCat]

After China-Russia ties up, USA desperately need allies all around the world. They know Europe is a dead horse as well as Asia Pacific clout who have no capacity contribute to any War Game in the coming future where USA can challenge Russia-China axis. USA banking on India a lot but not enough as India is not reliable ally neither India will back USA when time will come.

 

[Markus]

Hillary clinton is running free these days...it seems.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Another example of RAWamy League getting their orders from South Block. What does USA have to do with India? Why is RAWamy League mixing up the two?

um...nothing to shout about really.

It's about counter-terrorism and piracy and the like. Bangladesh can still play as a key to regional stability given its geography. They understand that most Bangladeshis aren't particularly too well educated, or very rich and developed. They always keep an eye on the fact that it doesn't wind up as a terrorist haven. But that's their view and their opinion.

Of-course, the so-called "defense analysts" sourced from India come up with random fairy tales like "Jamaat is a terrorist organization", "BNP wants to make Bangladesh another Pakistan", etc. etc. No, I am not referring to the Indian fanboys here, but actual "defense analysts".

Yeah, we'll see who's being delusional and causing regional instability It's only a matter of time.

Hillary did try to woo the Indians to buy the F-35. Believe it or not, the Indians were actually offered to participate in the JSF program which is basically a money-sucking machine.

India refused instead to focus on the FGFA program with Russia. It appears to me that India is mostly concerned about its own interests, and they have many, many challenges to address before actually coming to implement its full potential. And that'll take time.

Human rights in Bangladesh under AL is also a potential issue. Frankly, the AL's human rights record isn't very good. The previous BNP admin had a far better record in that regard.

After China-Russia ties up, USA desperately need allies all around the world. They know Europe is a dead horse as well as Asia Pacific clout who have no capacity contribute to any War Game in the coming future where USA can challenge Russia-China axis.

I seriously couldn't think of any continent more pitiful than Europe. First, they randomly screw around less advanced races, loot their valuables, control them, enslave them, start WWI, start WWII, slaughter Jews and other minorities, force Middle Easterners to pay for it, and now wind up broke. Talk about epic fail

The only country that's doing well is Germany (ironically).

But then, the EU is technically our largest trading partner

And yes, the Russia/China factor is a formidable challenger to US interests. If not a foe.

USA banking on India a lot but not enough as India is not reliable ally neither India will back USA when time will come.

It's hard to tell if the Indians are too keen on actually being allies of the US. There WAS Pakistan

And as far as third world countries being unreliable from the US POV, they have experienced it before. That's how jokes like CENTO and SEATO ceased to exist.

Move along folks.