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Bangladesh revolts against West
Sunita Paul
April 28, 2008

Finally Dhaka has opened its mind. Foreign Advisor in the military emergency government in Bangladesh, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, "There is a new Asian era beginning, and Bangladesh needs to adjust her foreign policy to these new circumstances,"

The adviser made the comments two days after Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi´s Dhaka visit. On April 24 Yang stated that China wanted to see Bangladesh as a key actor in regional and international affairs and would provide its support for the purpose.

´We remained linked too long to the metropolitan powers of the former colonial age, and maybe our interests also demanded that. But the times are rapidly changing. Asia is forging ahead at an unprecedented speed. Our policies need to be re-aligned to these global changes, or we will lag behind,´ said Iftekhar.

He also emphasized the need for breaking out of the trap of donor-recipient relationship, which is a legacy of the past.

´Perhaps we don´t realize that there is more reverse transfer of resources to those developed countries who buy from us. We pay many times more in duties to them than we receive in aid. Our efforts for easier market access will and must continue, but the system is unfairly skewed against us,´ said the foreign adviser.

´On the other hand, it is the booming economies of Asia that might help us to shape our future,´ he added.

Iftekhar termed China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, and the Gulf states as the power players of contemporary times.

´We must be vigorous in strengthening our links with these actors. This government has already begun the process that governments in the future will hopefully continue,´ he said.

Now, let us make a quick anatomy of the statement of the Bangladeshi regime´s advisor. He has emphasized of coming out of ´metropolitan power´. By saying this he has definitely hinted that Dhaka is slipping out pro-American and pro-West policies. He also mentions China, Myanmar and Iran as the next potential partners for Bangladesh. Although he did not mention North Korea, but it is easily understood that Dhaka anti American and anti West strategy will also accommodate North Korea as a closer partner in the coming days.

Many will raise question as to why Dhaka is angry on United States and the West. Because, they want the regime in Dhaka to go back to democracy as soon as possible. But, this is something, they do not want. They want to hold power as long as possible. Beijing might have even suggested Dhaka in endorsing ´people´s dictatorship´, which is a kind of neo-communism under military rule. On the other hand, Bangladeshi regime is afraid of possible reaction from the West on the status of gross violations of human rights in that that country. During past sixteen months of military emergency government, at least four journalists were forced to leave the country in fear of state repression. There has been report of unique type of harassment of internationally known Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, who faces sedition treason and blasphemy charges in his country for confronting religious extremism and jihad. International media expressed angry reaction at the repression of Mr. Choudhury. For quite obvious reason, Bangladeshi government is keeping mum in doing anything in either protecting this journalist from harassment and repression. The government is rather trying to defend the culprits in Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which abducted Choudhury from his office on March 18 at gun point. America´s prestigious daily Washington Times terms Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury as an ally of United States and an ally in war on terror. And, it is a fact by now that Dhaka is no more any friend of United States or war on terror. So, naturally they will try to destroy any pro-American or pro-Western individuals in Bangladesh. This is just one case, but many are even not coming in records. We may recollect our memories here on what happened in Tienman Square in Beijing couple of decades back, when students protested demanding democracy. Possibly in Dhaka too, pro-democracy and anti-Jihadist forces shall be facing severe opposition from the government in future.

Dhaka´s foreign advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury is a career diplomat. So, he has said everything understanding meaning of each of the word he uttered. His comments can never be washed out being something from a naïve. Dhaka´s angry reaction to the recent remarks of newly appointed US ambassador was the beginning of flexing muscle towards United States and the West. Now, Dhaka shall possibly continue to flex its muscle further.

The Bangladeshi foreign advisor has also passed negative remarks on donor countries and donor agencies and breaking relations with them to ´break the legacy of past´. He even raised fingers to major importers from Bangladesh saying, "perhaps we don´t realize that there is more reverse transfer of resources to those developed countries who buy from us."

This goes against the purchase of Bangladeshi readymade garments to United States. Although the readymade garment sector in the country is mostly surviving through export to United States, the foreign advisor, instead of expressing gratitude for such generosity of the Americans, passed negative remarks saying those buyers are getting more reverse transfer from Bangladesh. Possibly, policymakers in Washington, London and other European capitals will now have to refresh their policy in patronizing Bangladeshi exports to their countries.

Why Iftekhar said this?

Many will raise this plain question as to why the Bangladeshi foreign advisor is becoming over revolutionist and trying to annoy United States and the West. It is known by all that, China has been trying for years to somehow knock-out Bangladesh from the export of readymade garments to United States and capture the huge business. Millions of dollars had been even spent through lobbyists in attaining such goal in favor of China. Who knows, if Iftekhar has finally become the most effective instruments from Beijing to kill Bangladesh´s promising readymade garment exports. For China, anyway, it is not impossible to heavily compensate Iftekhar in killing Bangladeshi export to the West. But, on the other hand, none of the statements of the foreign advisor has ever been disowned by other members of the government or even by the Chief Advisor and the chief of army. Are they too in agreement with Iftekhar new policy? Do they realize the possible disaster Bangladeshi businesses may suffer due to such idiotic attitude of the foreign advisor? Or, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury for some reason is now much powerful than anything else in the government. Yes, everyone although knows the fact that the main reason for him in becoming the foreign advisor in the military emergency government was, his sister is the wife of the Chief Advisor. And, no one will have doubt to agree that, Bangladesh is now under the dark paws of Frankenstein brother-in-law.

americanchronicle.com





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