“There was a lot of tension. However, the United States wants to look ahead, not back, in relations with Bangladesh after removing these issues’ – US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu’s visit to Dhaka has raised questions after several comments that the United States should do before the election on various issues including elections, democracy and human rights. He took a strong position, whether he withdrew from that policy or not.
However, analysts say that the United States is actually trying to move forward with its ‘values-based’ policy position, i.e., by sticking to its previous policy on issues such as democracy, human rights, labor rights or freedom of expression. That’s Mr. They think that Lu’s speech came up.
On the other hand, in Dhaka Mr. After Lu’s speech, there was a kind of relief among the ruling party Awami League and an atmosphere of discomfort among the opposition parties led by BNP. However, leaders of both the parties have publicly dismissed the issue of relief.
A senior leader of the Awami League said ‘There was a misunderstanding on some issues which was created by civil society people. It is no longer there. The United States has understood that the people are with this government.
And the BNP Secretary General told BBC Bangla that no outside power has anything to do with Bangladesh, rather it is a matter of the political party and the people of Bangladesh. But recent human rights reports suggest that the US has not budged from its policy stance.
However, after the end of Bangladesh’s 12th National Parliament election last January, not much has been heard from the United States.
Even the country’s ambassador in Dhaka was not seen in public. In the meantime, President Joe Biden has nominated David Slayton Mill as the US ambassador to Dhaka.