AL leaders see positive indication
Ruling Awami League and its arch-rival BNP are happy over the just concluded visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry.
The AL thinks Kerry's praise of PM Sheikh Hasina's leadership is an indication of a change in US's policy towards Bangladesh. The party was also happy with Kerry's assurance to consider the extradition of Bangabandhu killer Rashed Chowdhury.
While BNP leaders expressed satisfaction over Kerry's meeting with party Chairperson Khaleda Zia and hoped that the US would play a strong role for holding a free fair national election in Bangladesh.
The BNP was also happy that Kerry did not have a meeting with Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad which hinted that the US still considers the BNP as the main opposition party.
Jatiya Party, however, insisted that it is the main opposition party.
While talking to The Daily Star, AL veteran leader and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said Kerry's statement about Sheikh Hasina-led government proved false the then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger's words that Bangladesh was a 'bottomless basket'.
The relationship between Bangladesh and the USA is better than ever and now the US has realised that Bangladesh is marching forward and the US is proud to be with Bangladesh, he said.
About Kerry's trip to Bangladesh, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who had a meeting with Kerry, told The Daily Star that Kerry's tour proved that the US's mindset towards Bangladesh has changed.
"The USA has realised that Bangladesh is going forward under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Now the country wants to work with Bangladesh especially in containing militancy," he said.
Kamal in his meeting with Kerry on Monday discussed bringing back the Bangabandhu killer to Bangladesh. "We are hopeful about his assurance," said the home minister.
AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said Kerry's trip to Bangladesh proved that the whole world was with the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
While talking to The Daily Star, a top leader of the BNP said, "The situation might have turned negative for the BNP, if Kerry had not given Khaleda an appointment. If he had refused, the ruling party would have gotten an opportunity to question the acceptability of the BNP to the international community."
"The duration of the meeting was supposed to be 20 minutes but he talked to the BNP chief for about 35 minutes. It happened because Kerry was interested to know about the BNP's thoughts on the next election, rise of militancy and other issues," said the BNP leader wishing anonymity.
Party sources said during the meeting with Kerry, the BNP delegation expressed worry over the cases against the BNP chief and that the government, out of vengeance, might make Khaleda ineligible to run in the next election.
They hoped that the US would play a strong role in holding a free fair national election in the country.
The BNP was happy with the fact that Kerry did not give Jatiya Party leader Raushan Ershad an appointment.
Jatiya Party rejected the claim and said they could not ask for an appointment as Raushan was sick.
"We were not sure about the meeting as the opposition leader was sick and did not seek an appointment. Later when we contacted them, they requested us to join the programme at Dhaka's Edward M Kennedy Centre in Dhanmondi," said Fakhrul Imam MP and presidium member of the party.
Meanwhile, diplomatic circles in Dhaka termed Kerry's visit productive, adds our diplomatic correspondent.
They said Kerry's trip would give a “tremendous boost” to the relationship of the two countries and help advance cooperation on countering terrorism and violent extremism.
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Washington said Kerry's visit was purely to offer US help as the Bangladesh government confronts growing extremism that resulted in deadly attacks, including the July 1 attack which killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka.
Though there was no announcement on cooperation in any specific issue, countering terrorism and extremism was the core agenda of his discussion with Bangladeshi political leadership.
Diplomatic sources said Kerry told the PM and other ministers that security and stronger civil society were essential to ensure continuation of development.
“We have seen a shift in US policy. The US is now saying that Bangladesh has an extraordinary development story. The same US, soon after independence, had termed Bangladesh as a basket case,” a diplomat said, adding that this was a clear shift and something for which Bangladesh could be proud of.
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