US softening stance on Bangladesh could heighten China-India rivalry for regional dominance
With countering Chinese influence being the sole focus, the US has sidelined its concerns about democracy and human rights under the Sheikh Hasina regime.
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In May, United States Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu visited Bangladesh, indicating a softening of America’s stance towards the country. This comes despite mounting domestic and international concerns, including several rounds of criticism by the United States about Bangladesh’s authoritarian tilt.
Lu’s visit on May 14-16, which focused on climate change and economic ties, avoided any discussion on the January 7 national election in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League secured a fourth consecutive term.
Just over a day after the elections, the United States on January 9 said the polls were not “free or fair”. The opposition Bangladesh National Party had boycotted the elections alleging voter suppression, widespread arrests and a climate of fear in the country.
A series of high-level visits from Washington, including by Lu in January 2023, had culminated in the announcement in May of visa restrictions on Bangladeshis implicated in undermining the democratic election process.
This significantly strained the bilateral relationship between the two countries, with the Bangladesh government fearing the imposition of even harsher economic sanctions.
But that never happened.
Soon after Lu’s visit, the US imposed sanctions on Bangladesh’s former army chief Aziz Ahmed for “corruption” and “undermining the country’s democratic institutions” – but nothing more.
The apparent shift in Washington DC’s outlook towards Bangladesh, reportedly at the behest of...
