Ensuring peace and secularism and stopping “advocating for terrorists” in Bangladesh should be the top priority of the US and other western countries, speakers at a webinar have said.
Western partners of Bangladesh also need to ensure that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leader, Tarique Rahman, who has been convicted of corruption and terrorism, do not receive patronage from any international partner, they also said.
They were speaking at a seminar on “Violence, Democracy, and US Policy in Bangladesh” held on Friday.
Citing recent moves by the US in some Muslim-majority countries and examples of the US departure from Afghanistan and Iraq, the speakers also emphasized 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 organizations 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 asked how those organizations would practice 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 advocating for “religious extremist political parties” in Bangladesh.
He emphasized more Bangladeshi outreach in the United States to highlight outstanding Bangladeshi successes to develop mutual and respectful relationships.
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 provided immunity through General Zia's amendment of the constitution, he said.
“Thus, Zia was the first to institutionalize and legitimize violence. The same groups continue to perpetuate violence today,” he said.
He also emphasized a more flexible US policy to ensure stability in South Asia, not the current “one-size-fits-all” policy.
