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Message from Momen-Blinken meeting explains why US wants full engagement with Bangladesh Part I
The relationship between Bangladesh and the United States has grown tremendously over the last 51 years and the US is committed to continuing to work together to further strengthen and deepen the ties.
“We’re committed to continuing to work together, to find ways to strengthen and deepen the relationship, to address as well economic development and human rights,” said Antony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State, when he met Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the Department of State in Washington DC in the early hours of Tuesday (BST).
“We’re committed to continuing to work together, to find ways to strengthen and deepen the relationship, to address as well economic development and human rights. And of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next elections, to make sure that they set a strong example for free and fair elections for the region and for the world.”
Antony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State
“And of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next elections, to make sure that they set a strong example for free and fair elections for the region and for the world,” Blinken said. A meeting between Bangladesh and the United States at the level of foreign ministers was held at the US State Department on Monday.
The United States has given a significant message in Abdul Momen’s visit. For the sake of continued inclusion in the global process, it is necessary to seriously consider the advice of the United States on various issues related to holding free and fair elections, freedom of expression and human rights.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen. The US delegation was led by Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken. In the meeting, Blinken mentioned that since 2017, the United States has provided 2.1 billion dollars in humanitarian aid to the Rohingya. He reiterated the United States’ commitment to promoting Bangladesh’s economic growth, free and fair elections, human and labor rights, and freedom of expression.
US Secretary of State Blinken expressed deep concern over violence and intimidation against the media and civil society, including the Digital Security Act. He wants to deepen the US-Bangladesh relationship and said Bangladesh needs free and fair elections, respect for human rights, media and civil society. Blinken also mentioned that the whole world is looking towards the upcoming elections in Bangladesh. Such free and fair elections should be organized in Bangladesh, so that it becomes a ‘model’ election in the region and in the world.
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen promised to resolve these concerns of the United States. But it is important to implement these commitments. By inviting Foreign Minister Momen and giving these messages, Blinken proves that the importance of Bangladesh to the United States has increased. The United States has pledged to continue aid to the Rohingya despite a drop in world aid, which is positive. Moreover, Bangladesh has the highest remittances from the United States. The US also has a high contribution to trade and investment.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticized the United States in her speech to the National Assembly ahead of the foreign ministerial meeting in Washington. The role of the United States in elections and politics was expressed in his speech. However, the US President wrote a letter of thanks to Joe Biden for his wishes on Independence Day.
There was a very good meeting at the level of the foreign minister in Washington. The meeting was very important to strengthen bilateral relations. But Blinken said that the whole world is looking at the election of Bangladesh; I don’t understand how he said that about the responsibility of the world. What the United States has said at various times seeking free and fair elections in Bangladesh; This time too there was no exception. This is nothing new. Foreign Minister of Bangladesh assured. Observers will be appointed. The meeting is therefore timely. This is not a courtesy meeting. Full bilateral meeting. The relationship between Bangladesh and the United States is stable.’ The message of the United States must be taken seriously. The United States considers itself the leader of the world. What the United States is saying, the European Union, Australia, Japan is also saying the same thing. Each country tries to say it differently. What Bangladesh does is its decision. However, Bangladesh is continuously becoming part of the global process.
The United States recently released a report on the human rights situation on 198 countries in 2022. The country’s state department made various allegations of human rights violations against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is experiencing a number of difficulties as a result of global price inflation brought on by the Coronavirus and Ukraine-Russia confrontation. US report was crucial in this circumstance. The US has recently given this part of Asia more attention.
The year 2021 was a trying one for relations between the US and Bangladesh. On December 10, 2021, the US sanctioned Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and numerous current and former officers for a long history of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings. Bangladesh was not invited to the virtual Summit for Democracy that month by the Biden administration. In 2022, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, suppression of expression and media, use of force in gatherings, obstruction of national and international human rights institutions, etc. continued as usual in Bangladesh. However, compared to 2021, extrajudicial killings have decreased in 2022, according to the report published on the global human rights situation.
These things were said in the report entitled ‘2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices’ published on the website of the US State Department on Monday (March 21) about the global human rights situation.
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