Elections in Bangladesh are scheduled to take place in January 2024. Sheikh Hasina-led-Awami League is seeking re-election for the third consecutive term. She has been the Prime Minister of the country since 2009.
With just two months away from the elections, the United States government, its agencies and the embedded media are called out for orchestrating a ‘regime change operation’ in Bangladesh.
Attempts are now being made to distort the public perception of incumbent Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and present her as an ‘autocratic leader.’ The Joe Biden-led-US government is accused of election interference under the pretext of ‘saving democracy’ and conducting ‘free and fair elections’ in the Islamic Republic.
TIME’s new cover: Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, democracy in Bangladesh hangs in the balance https://t.co/355ojZW1j1 pic.twitter.com/POMi7oRKD0
— TIME (@TIME) November 2, 2023
On Thursday (2nd November), Time magazine put Sheikh Hasina on its front cover and accused the Bangladeshi Prime Minister of comprising democratic values in the country.
It published a contentious article titled ‘Sheikh Hasina and the Future of Democracy in Bangladesh’ to cast aspersions about the state of affairs in the nation. This bears an uncanny resemblance to Time magazine’s hitjob against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The targeting of Sheikh Hasina by the US government’s embedded media apparatus comes just days after US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, directed the ruling Awami League to engage in dialogue with the Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Testing the parties' interest in dialogue, the US Embassy in #Bangladesh calls for the parties to sit together "without preconditions"https://t.co/hYLFnDArPo
— Geoffrey Macdonald (@geoffreymacdon) October 31, 2023
Haas went out of his way to conduct a meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and claimed, “Any action that undermines the democratic elections process — including violence, preventing people from exercising their right to peaceful assembly and internet access – call into question the ability to conduct free and fair elections.”
On Saturday (28th October), the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the US State Department tweeted, “The United States condemns today’s political violence in Dhaka. We call for calm and restraint on all sides and will review all violent incidents for possible visa restrictions.”
The development came hours after members of the Opposition BNP clashed with the police and engaged in violence in the hopes of ousting the ruling Awami League government.
The United States condemns today's political violence in Dhaka. We call for calm and restraint on all sides and will review all violent incidents for possible visa restrictions.
— State_SCA (@State_SCA) October 28, 2023
In May this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinkedn introduced a new visa policy, restricting the travel of Bangladeshis who are supposedly involved in undermining democratic elections in Bangladesh.
He had said in a tweet, “Today, I announced a new visa policy to promote free and fair elections. Under this policy, we can impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.”
Today, I announced a new visa policy to promote free and fair elections. Under this policy, we can impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 24, 2023
“Our message today to the people of Bangladesh is that we stand behind you,” the spokesperson for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, justified the arm twisting.
.@StateDeptSpox discusses new policy to restrict the issuance of visas for Bangladeshi individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Bangladesh’s democratic election process: “Our message today to the people of Bangladesh is that we stand behind you.” pic.twitter.com/FdvtCp2rzP
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 24, 2023
In July 2023, Miller dismissed allegations of electoral interference by the US government in Bangladesh.
He claimed in defence, “I don’t know why anyone would object to us calling for free and fair elections. And as I said in response to another question earlier, we don’t consider it interference in internal affairs when other countries raise our elections process with us. We welcome those discussions as an opportunity to strengthen our democracy, and we don’t know why any other countries would object.“
“We do not support one political party over the other; we support a genuine democratic process,” the spokesperson for the US State Department justified its government’s policy to undermine foreign governments in the name of ‘saving democracy.’
On Bangladesh elections
— BNP Media Cell (@BNPBdMediaCell) July 11, 2023
We support
a genuine
democratic process
———
Matthew Miller
State Department Spokesperson, USA
Monday, July 10, 2023, at the State Department's press briefing pic.twitter.com/rQ2UxJRVsj
Earlier on February 14, 2023, the Counselor of the State Department, Derek Chollet, visited Bangladesh and warned, “The United States’ strongest partnerships in the world are with strong democracies. And, to the extent democracy is weakening anywhere, it’s going to be a limiting factor in our ability to cooperate.”
“It doesn’t mean we won’t cooperate, it doesn’t mean our relationship won’t be important, but it just will be a limiting factor when it comes to business investment,” he further threatened.
In December last year, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas attended a political event, aimed at highlighting the cases of ‘forced disappearances’ supposedly carried out by the Sheikh Hasina government.
@USAmbBangladesh Peter Haas, met families of victims of enforced disappearance in #Dhaka where they shared their ordeal over the years.
— Basherkella – বাঁশেরকেল্লা (@basherkella) December 15, 2022
Haas went to the house of #BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon, a victim of #EnforcedDisappearance in 2013.#HumanRights #MayerDaak #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/5FI0iEZMNz
In December 2021, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Bangladesh police’s anti-terror unit, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), alleging human rights abuses.
‘Surrogate’ targeting of Bangladeshi government
Besides its official handles, agencies and diplomats, the United States is casting aspersions on the Sheikh Hasina government through its ‘surrogate’ think tanks, media outlets and sponsored individuals.
For instance, on 29th October, Derek J Grossman of the American think tank ‘RAND Corporation’ tweeted, “Bangladesh is on the verge of political chaos.”
Bangladesh is on the verge of political chaos. https://t.co/hm8qd9Aixj
— Derek J. Grossman (@DerekJGrossman) October 29, 2023
On 26th October this year, the Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT) published a contentious article titled ‘Bangladesh: Government must end torture ahead of elections’ to insinuate that Sheikh Hasina is an oppressive leader with no ‘tolerance’ for dissent.
Controversial ‘journalist’ Michael Kugelman, who was part of an anti-India propaganda webinar in 2020, wrote a detailed piece in Foreign Policy, justifying pressure tactics adopted by the Joe Biden administration against the Bangladeshi government.
In August this year, Foreign Policy published an article titled ‘Washington Can Give Bangladesh’s Democracy the Kiss of Life’, rationalising US interference in the 2024 Bangladesh elections.
Sheikh Hasina reacts to US attempt to undermine her govt
The constant virtue signalling has prompted a bitter war of words between the Sheikh Hasina government and the United States. “Is (US President) Biden holding dialogue with Mr Trump? If Biden sits with Trump for dialogue, then I will hold the dialogue (with opposition),” the Bangladeshi PM pointed out.
She emphasised, “No dialogue with the killers. This is Bangladesh. People of the country also do not want any dialogue with killers. “BNP is a terrorist party, as a terrorist party they need to get a good lesson.”
Although Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly reiterated her commitment to conduct free and fair elections, the US government has refused to budge.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused the United States of seeking a regime change in the country. “They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence,” Hasina said in Parliament.#Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/jvNx9tRo6D
— World Times (@WorldTimesWT) April 16, 2023
Through its agencies, favourable media houses and representatives based in Bangladesh, the United States is adamant about ‘regime change operation’ in the name of restoring democracy.
“They (US) are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence…It’ll be an undemocratic action,” she said in a statement in April this year.
India must be wary of ‘US interference’ in 2024 Lok Sabha elections
The disturbing development in India’s neighbourhood must be a wake-up call for us ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Having said that, the usual suspects have already hinted that a nefarious ‘regime change’ operation is underway in the country.
In January this year, a Congress-friendly journalist named Anil Tyagi claimed that Rahul Gandhi-led-Bharat Jodo Yatra was a ploy by foreign powers to execute a regime change in India.
He emphasised, “They (foreign powers) wanted to stop the rise of Nazism in India. And who is the man who can do that task? He is none other than Rahul Gandhi, the leader of a large party (Indian National Congress). He has 40 MPs and several MLAs in different States. There is no better alternative.”
“Rahul Gandhi has not been able to highlight the fear factor (Darr ki baat) and the concerns of the global powers. I am breaking news on your channel (Satya Hindi). In the past 4 months, people from different countries, who support a regime change in India, have come here,” Tyagi claimed.
He added, “Those foreign agents are working on tools of regime change in India. This is why Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo yatra is important. What is not important is whether or not he will go to Kashmir and unfurl the tricolour.”
“Rahul had undertaken the 3400 km walk and completed the objective (of the foreign powers). He had successfully communicated what he intended on doing,” Tyagi pointed out.
Is Soros behind Adani issue to target Modi?
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) February 17, 2023
George Soros says- "Modi will have to answer on Adani in Parliament. This will significantly weaken Modi's stranglehold on India's federal govt."
"I expect a democratic revival in India" pic.twitter.com/P7wwh7U7qz
In February 2023, Far-left billionaire George Soros had earlier called for the ouster of the Modi government through a ‘regime change’ operation, which he shrewdly labelled ‘democratic revival.’
Again in June this year, US ‘journalist’ Fareed Zakaria asked the US government to invest in regime change tactics instead of seeking healthy bilateral relations with India. “Far better to ally with India’s society itself, expanding ties with its businesses, press, NGOs, cultural groups and others,” he was heard saying.
There have been speculations about Congress scion Rahul Gandhi’s secret visit to the White House during his 10-day tour of the United States.
According to this report Rahul Gandhi went to the White House. Doesn’t say who he met there. The visit has been kept a secret by both sides. pic.twitter.com/BVwsD6rN8X
— Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) June 7, 2023
His recent mysterious trip to Uzbekistan has also added to allegations of him being a party to a ‘regime change’ ploy in India. A free and fair election, devoid of foreign interference, is integral to India’s democracy and there cannot be any compromise on it.
