India, US at odds over Bangladesh policy

[BanglaBhoot]

Indrani Bagchi, TNN | Oct 30, 2013, 10.49 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Publicly, India and the US may appear to be on the same page regarding the situation in Bangladesh. But in reality, India is increasingly uncomfortable with the US' positions, and believes it can have negative implications for Bangladesh and the region.

Last week, US ambassador to Dhaka, Dan Mozena, visited South Block and spent long hours meeting foreign secretary Sujatha Singh and other senior officials. As picketing, shut-downs and street violence take over domestic politics in Bangladesh, India and the US have shared concerns regarding its stability.

Sources said Sheikh Hasina had invited her rivalBegum Khaleda Zia for a meeting and dinner to end the impasse over the caretaker government. But main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is unwilling to end the violence and insisting on a neutral dispensation.

But India remains more concerned about the colour of politics being pursued by BNP. This is where Indian and the US positions diverge.

The US appears much more comfortable with the BNP-Jamaat combine, who have made no secret of their radicalized politics. India believes if this succeeds, Bangladesh would be very different as a nation. The politics of BNP and Jamaat have become more radicalized in the past couple of years.

Indian intelligence has detected influences of both Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and al-Qaida. There is a lot of funding available to these groups from West Asian countries, and some from Pakistan.

The US is less comfortable with Sheikh Hasina's government, especially after the PM's confrontation with Mohammed Yunus of Grameen Bank — the fracas over funding for the Padma bridge project — and also the war crimes tribunal. There appears to be a part of official thinking in the US that believes, according to sources here, BNP-Jamaat have better free market credentials, and that they would move away from radical Islam once they are in power. "They are too far away to have a realistic view of the street," they said.

India is haunted by the 2001 Pyrdiwah massacre, when 15 BSF personnel were massacred by BDR troops in an ugly confrontation. BNP had explained Jamaat's place in government thus: it would be better to have them in than out. But once in government, Jamaat occupied the ministries crucial to furthering their radical agenda. Those years saw the flowering of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and other terror groups like HuJI. India is opposed to a return to those days.

An added regional vulnerability is the Rohingya problem in Myanmar. With heightened communal tensions in Myanmar along with considerable Rohingya population in Bangladesh, New Delhi believes that the situation is ripe for disaster. The implications of increased radicalized politics in Bangladesh would have terrible implications for Myanmar's stability.

Again, reports of LeT and al-Qaida infiltration among Rohingyas are popping up frequently. The instability as a result of radical politics could spread to India's north-east and even China's Yunnan province.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...er-Bangladesh-policy/articleshow/24950652.cms

 

[Zabaniyah]

US, India consult political crisis in Bangladesh

Worried about the political stalemate ahead of the general election in Bangladesh, US Ambassador to Dhaka Dan Mozena had been in Delhi to consult the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to seek India's views on the situation arising out of violent opposition protests, reports UNB.

Mozena, who met senior officials in the MEA in Delhi on Friday, concurred with India's approach on establishing peace and stability in Bangladesh, the need for free and fair elections where all parties participate and countering extremism and terrorism there, the Economic Times, an Indian specialised daily, reported quoting diplomatic sources.

"India and Bangladesh are on the same page with regard to Bangladesh and the emerging situation there," an official said, adding that the US envoy was not invited to India but visited Delhi as per his government's decision.

The US Ambassador met his Indian counterpart in Bangladesh Pankaj Saran before taking the flight to Delhi and the two discussed the political scenario amid PM Sheikh Hasina's announcement that elections will be held by January next and the opposition's massive protests demanding that the Prime Minister quit and order polls under a caretaker government.

There are reports that terror groups are regrouping in Bangladesh with the help of the ISI, the report says.

Source: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMTBfMjlfMTNfMV8yXzE4ODMyOA==

See what happens when ye use .50 Cal clad APC's against demonstrators?

And as far as "radicals" go, what's wrong with them? They have Modi, we have Jamaatis. Deal with it, or go lick on an ice-cream or something.

 

[kalu_miah]

Looks like we have multiple threads on same subject. So I will ask the questions here again.

India, US at odds over Bangladesh policy


NEW DELHI: Publicly, India and the US may appear to be on the same page regarding the situation in Bangladesh. But in reality, India is increasingly uncomfortable with the US' positions, and believes it can have negative implications for Bangladesh and the region.

Last week, US ambassador to Dhaka, Dan Mozena, visited South Block and spent long hours meeting foreign secretary Sujatha Singh and other senior officials. As picketing, shut-downs and street violence take over domestic politics in Bangladesh, India and the US have shared concerns regarding its stability.

Sources said Sheikh Hasina had invited her rival Begum Khaleda Zia for a meeting and dinner to end the impasse over the caretaker government. But main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is unwilling to end the violence and insisting on a neutral dispensation.

But India remains more concerned about the colour of politics being pursued by BNP. This is where Indian and the US positions diverge.

The US appears much more comfortable with the BNP-Jamaat combine, who have made no secret of their radicalized politics. India believes if this succeeds, Bangladesh would be very different as a nation. The politics of BNP and Jamaat have become more radicalized in the past couple of years.

Indian intelligence has detected influences of both Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and al-Qaida. There is a lot of funding available to these groups from West Asian countries, and some from Pakistan.

The US is less comfortable with Sheikh Hasina's government, especially after the PM's confrontation with Mohammed Yunus of Grameen Bank — the fracas over funding for the Padma bridge project — and also the war crimes tribunal. There appears to be a part of official thinking in the US that believes, according to sources here, BNP-Jamaat have better free market credentials, and that they would move away from radical Islam once they are in power. "They are too far away to have a realistic view of the street," they said.

India is haunted by the 2001 Pyrdiwah massacre, when 15 BSF personnel were massacred by BDR troops in an ugly confrontation. BNP had explained Jamaat's place in government thus: it would be better to have them in than out. But once in government, Jamaat occupied the ministries crucial to furthering their radical agenda. Those years saw the flowering of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and other terror groups like HuJI. India is opposed to a return to those days.

An added regional vulnerability is the Rohingya problem in Myanmar. With heightened communal tensions in Myanmar along with considerable Rohingya population in Bangladesh, New Delhi believes that the situation is ripe for disaster. The implications of increased radicalized politics in Bangladesh would have terrible implications for Myanmar's stability.

Again, reports of LeT and al-Qaida infiltration among Rohingyas are popping up frequently. The instability as a result of radical politics could spread to India's north-east and even China's Yunnan province.

1. Is USA really more positive about BNP-Jamat, because obviously Mozena knows what is going on in Bangladesh? That is why we have US embassy and an Ambassador is sitting there in the first place, to feel the pulse of Bangladesh public opinion from grass roots level.
2. How will Nisha Desai affect things, as she is now Mozena's boss?
3. Is USA worried that Hasina will loose regardless in their own assessment of the ground situation, so USA is just being pragmatic and want to side with BNP-Jamat who are going to be in power in the next term?

"They are too far away to have a realistic view of the street," they said.

Who is this they?

Delusional Indians obviously cannot see writings in the wall and accept the reality of public opinion in Bangladesh and are still trying to prop up Hasina led AL. And USA, their ally, is trying to bring them to senses about the reality. I say it is a futile effort, knowing Indians and how their minds work.

 

[genmirajborgza786]

Nisha Desai expected in Dhaka this month

Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Foreign Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal, US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, is expected to come to Dhaka on an orientation trip this month

US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal is expected to come to Dhaka on an orientation trip this month.

“She will be in the region in the middle of this month and we are trying to find a way to accommodate Dhaka in her trip,” director general of the America Wing Mahfuzur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune.

Biswal was sworn in as the assistant secretary on October 21 replacing Robert O Blake.

Both Dhaka and Washington are trying to work out a possible schedule for her, said another foreign ministry official.

The foreign ministry officials are to find a convenient schedule for the US assistant secretary’s meetings with Bangladesh officials, who will be busy with the high profile visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Nazib Rezak to Dhaka and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Colombo in the middle of November.

Bangladesh ambassador to US Akramul Qader was schedule to meet Biswal Thursday afternoon Washington time.

“We have been known for a long time but this will be my first meeting with her as the capacity of assistant secretary,” Qader said.

Biswal worked as assistant administrator for Asia at the USAID.

Her possible visit coincides with the recent activities of US ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena who in the recent weeks passed busy times meeting political leaders including Khaleda Zia, HM Ershad, Mirza Fakhrul Islam and Syed Ashraful Islam, among others.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Mozena is leaving Dhaka for Washington on Friday to meet his family.

“While he is in the United States, he will also have consultations in Washington, D.C. and then visit Michigan to continue his outreach to the Bangladeshi-American Diaspora, civil society, and business leaders where he will discuss all aspects of our broad bilateral partnership with Bangladesh,” said a US embassy statement.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/foreign-affairs/2013/nov/01/nisha-desai-expected-dhaka-month

 

[Spring Onion]

HujI had Indian traces but sadly it bounced back on India.

anyway Bangladeshis should demand for bringing back independent care taker system for elections which cunningly abolished by hassina .


The military set up had already been changed at top brass in favour of hassina so lets see if for the first time any govt wins twice consecutively in BD

 

[PlanetSoldier]

Source: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMTBfMjlfMTNfMV8yXzE4ODMyOA==

See what happens when ye use .50 Cal clad APC's against demonstrators?

And as far as "radicals" go, what's wrong with them? They have Modi, we have Jamaatis. Deal with it, or go lick on an ice-cream or something.

Jamaat is radical like Modi and Co. ? Show us the proof...how many minority people Jamaat has killed until now since independence?

 

[UKBengali]

Looks like we have multiple threads on same subject. So I will ask the questions here again.




1. Is USA really more positive about BNP-Jamat, because obviously Mozena knows what is going on in Bangladesh? That is why we have US embassy and an Ambassador is sitting there in the first place, to feel the pulse of Bangladesh public opinion from grass roots level.
2. How will Nisha Desai affect things, as she is now Mozena's boss?
3. Is USA worried that Hasina will loose regardless in their own assessment of the ground situation, so USA is just being pragmatic and want to side with BNP-Jamat who are going to be in power in the next term?

"They are too far away to have a realistic view of the street," they said.

Who is this they?

Delusional Indians obviously cannot see writings in the wall and accept the reality of public opinion in Bangladesh and are still trying to prop up Hasina led AL. And USA, their ally, is trying to bring them to senses about the reality. I say it is a futile effort, knowing Indians and how their minds work.

The smarter minds in the Indian government know that BD will become another thorn in their side and their only hope
is for Hasina and the Awami League to be kept in power. That way they will have more influence over the BD economy by trying to make it as much dependent on India as possible, and also militarily by dissuading the purchase by BD of modern weapons that would be considered a threat to India.

 

[faithfulguy]

The smarter minds in the Indian government know that BD will become another thorn in their side and their only hope
is for Hasina and the Awami League to be kept in power. That way they will have more influence over the BD economy by trying to make it as much dependent on India as possible, and also militarily by dissuading the purchase by BD of modern weapons that would be considered a threat to India.

India need to end its imperialistic attitude over its neighbors. It had occupied much of its neighbors and sent troops to Kashmir, SL and BD.

 

[idune]

One can be sure india is propping Nisha Desai on how to do indian bidding while wearing US uniform. Mrs. Desai may speak neutrality on surface but she is and will be india representative in disguise and US has allowed that. US and India may differ in means but Bangladesh and Bangladeshis should not think US and india as different in their goal and agenda.

 

[idune]

Specking of india is propping Nisha Desai on how to do indian bidding while wearing US uniform - looks like india just set first agenda by use of false flag ops in Pabna.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Jamaat is radical like Modi and Co. ? Show us the proof...how many minority people Jamaat has killed until now since independence?

Give them some love man

 

[T-123456]

Note the use of terror and terrorist to scare China. To make a dream come true for Indians, all 1.6 billion Muslims need to turn into terrorists or at least terrorist sympathizers, so they could be nuked and done with once and for all.

It seems the US is more worried about Bangladesh getting closer to China,it could be just politcs.
Disagreeing with India to get closer to Bangladesh maybe?

 

[Zabaniyah]

It seems the US is more worried about Bangladesh getting closer to China,it could be just politcs.
Disagreeing with India to get closer to Bangladesh maybe?

Bangladesh's largest weapons supplier is China. And its largest source of imports. While Bangladesh does business with Taiwan at the same time. It has very good relations with Japan as well. No issues there with either US or China.

The Americans (or anyone for that matter) do not want to get things out of control, where the small country would head into an apocalyptic-like scenario. India is not agreeing to those concerns. They're willing to take risks over it.

 

[T-123456]

Bangladesh's largest weapons supplier is China. And its largest source of imports. While Bangladesh does business with Taiwan at the same time. It has very good relations with Japan as well. No issues there with either US or China.

The Americans (or anyone for that matter) do not want to get things out of control, where the small country would head into an apocalyptic-like scenario. India is not agreeing to those concerns. They're willing to take risks over it.

Risks as in?
Governing?
If,is there anything they can do?

 

[Zabaniyah]

Risks as in?
Governing?
If,is there anything they can do?

Governing? More or less. Along with close to no security assurance to it citizens. The country's economic growth and activities had been on the fall over the years because of the ruling party's policies and politics.

There's no dialogue between the opposition and ruling party. And when there's such bitter division and mistrust even over very petty things, then things do get messy. And that's when progress stops.

The politics of Bangladesh had always been volatile, with a history of violence. Even since Democracy had been installed since the early 90's. Things actually got worse after that. That is what happens when you let family lines rule over a political party. Something that is bound to fail no matter which part of the world it is in.

What can they do? That we cannot predict.