Ensuring peace and secularism, and stopping “advocacy for terrorists” in Bangladesh should be the top priority of the US and other western countries, speakers said at a webinar on “Violence, Democracy, and US Policy in Bangladesh” held recently.
Western partners of Bangladesh also need to ensure that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leader, Tarique Rahman convicted of corruption and terrorism, do not receive patronage from any international partner, the speakers also said.
Citing recent moves by the US in some Muslim-majority countries
and examples of the US departure from Afghanistan and Iraq, the speakers also underscored that Bangladesh could turn into another Afghanistan or Iraq if the right-wing, Islamist extremists come to power in the next national election.
Dr Nuran Nabi, Councilman of Plainsboro, New Jersey, and freedom fighter, chaired the webinar, while prominent Bangladeshi human rights activist Shahriar Kabir, international public policy expert Seth Oldmixon, political analyst Chris Blackburn, and Professor ABM Nasir spoke at the seminar.
“Religion-based organisations do not believe in democracy, and those organisations would like to rule Bangladesh using religion,” said Shahriar Kabir.
Mentioning the atrocities of the Islamist political party, Jamaat, against the minority Hindu community during 2001-2006, he raised questions how those organisations would practise democracy.
Seth Oldmixon said the US should not do anything to remediate conflicts among domestic political parties, it is the job of Bangladeshis.
He was concerned about the US condemnation of religious violence only after it was perpetrated, instead of taking preemptive measures to stop such types of violence.
He warned against western powers advocacy for “religious extremist political parties” in Bangladesh.
He emphasised more Bangladeshi outreach in the United States to highlight outstanding Bangladeshi successes to develop mutual and respectful relationship.
Chris Blackburn wondered whether the US was in a “reckless sanctioning process” worldwide and in Bangladesh.
He also wondered whether US action would stop the “violence and terrorism of BNP-Jamaat” led by Tarique Rahman.
Dr Nasir spoke on the historical chronology of violence, which can be traced back to the genocide of 1971.
The same group who committed genocide was also given immunity through General Zia's amendment to the Constitution, he said.
“Thus, Zia was the first to institutionalise and legitimise violence. The same groups continue to perpetuate violence today,” he said.
He also emphasised a more flexible US policy to ensure stability in South Asia, not the current “one-size-fits-all” policy.
