A year before Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh PM and left the country, Indian officials had asked their US counterparts to stop pressuring the former Bangladeshi prime minister. The Washington Post has given this report citing Indian and American officials.
Hasina, 76, has been publicly criticized by US diplomats for jailing thousands of her rivals and critics ahead of general elections in January 2024.
The US administration has imposed sanctions on a Bangladeshi police unit accused of kidnapping and murder under the leadership of an Awami League leader. It has also threatened to impose visa ban on Bangladeshis who weaken democracy or violate human rights.
Be gentle in your rhetoric
During high-level meetings, Indian officials urged the US to tone down its rhetoric regarding Bangladesh. He argued that if the opposition regains power through open elections, it could lead to Bangladesh becoming a hub for Islamic groups, threatening India’s national security. Speaking to The Washington Post on condition of anonymity, an Indian official said, ‘You look at it at the level of democracy, but for us, the issues are much more serious and existential.’
He further said, ‘There were a lot of conversations with the Americans in which we said, ‘This is a core concern for us, and until we have some kind of strategic agreement, you cannot treat us as a strategic partner. Can’t take it.’ This led the Biden administration to postpone threats of further sanctions against Hasina’s regime, disappointing many Bangladeshis.
However, according to reports, US officials said that this was a planned move, which was related to Indian lobbying. Was the situation in Bangladesh mishandled? Prime Minister Hasina was forced to flee to India after protesters defied curfew orders imposed by the army and marched on her official residence.
A US official said, ‘There is always a need to strike a balance in Bangladesh, because the situation on the ground is complex in many places, and you want to work with your partners in a way that may not be in line with the expectations of the American people. .’
Divisions within the Biden administration emerged over how to handle Bangladesh ahead of the January elections. People familiar with the matter told The Washington Post that then-Ambassador Peter Haas and others called for a tougher stance against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. According to the report, some US officials also considered the consequences of India’s protest, urging the Biden administration to ease pressure on Sheikh Hasina.