War Hawks in Bangladeshi Sky

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POSTED BY REZAUL HOQUE IN ANALYSIS

WednesdayMAY 2012
2 COMMENTS

Tags
Andrew J. Shapiro, Dan Mozena, Hillary Clinton,Secretary of State,TICFA

This month witnessed arrivals of some international political big-wigs. But it was the visit of the Madam Hillary that drew much attention to and that was well covered by local media. During her stay at Dhaka, two countries officially disclosed that both the countries initiated a dialogue on how to consolidate a strategic partnership. Madam Hillary also stressed on signing a Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA). Preparatory talks of a defense cooperation kicked off before the arrival of madam secretary. A State Department official Andrew J. Shapiro, known as War Hawk, held closed-door talks with Bangladeshi officials on this regard. Madam Hillary also took part in a live TV talk-show at the coffee-sipping green zone of Dhaka. Unlike the similar interview that held in Kolkata, it was not well-publicized and limited to a closed circle of Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) members, most of them have come from right-wing elite families. She spent a long period of time in discussing with Khaleda Zia. What was interesting both Begum Zia and BYLC secretary Ejaj Ahmad ended their conversation with Madam Hillary hoping her to see as the next president of USA. Almost two weeks have passed since Madam Hillary left Dhaka, still op-ed pages of local dailies are full of views and opinions on her visit. It seems to me there is a trust-deficit among Bangladeshis, excluding those who are advocating a partnership. The reason of this trust-deficit lies on the answer of a crucial question. Did American deeds match with its words in most of the cases in the past? The answer is no. It sounds like a joke to me when the Secretary of State said Americans wanted to see democracy flourishes in Bangladesh. Where is the killer of Bangladeshs founding father

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman? Where is the principal staff officer of former CMLA Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad? Where are the former military spy chief, military chief and chief advisor of un-elected caretaker government of 2007-2008? U.S. officials and Madam Secretary expressed their concern over the working conditions in the manufacturing sector and the death of a trade union leader.But do they know thousands of illegal Mexican kids are recruited to pluck peppers in North Carolina? Us ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W. Mozena, talking to the journalists in a program organized on the installation of a scanner that could detect radio-active material, told that Bangladesh would become the number 1 garment exporter country in the world. The following day, the US government took away the GSP facility from the Bangladeshi made sleeping bag! Just look at the kind of change U.S. backed Arab Spring brought to Maghreb. Islamists are taking full advantage of the power vacuum in that region.Leading political commentators are backing such change on the ground of long term objectives. US seems little bothered. Remember the Nazi rise? They were also the stakeholder of democracy! Egypt and Pakistan also received millions of dollar worth military aid. Did this aid bring stability in these countries? Army plays a behind the scene role in manipulating the political situation and hampering democratic process. U.S. wants India to play a bigger role in this region, but it is reluctant to see the rise of a stronger India. In fact, Shapiros office blocked a proposal on the transfer of Javelin missile technology to India. Often it does not mean what it says! U.S. blamed Pakistan for Mumbai attack, but it is noticeably quiet on the issue of detaining Hafeez Said, one of the perpetrators. It seems to me US is trying to prop up a Bangladesh that could be used to play against both India and China. But on May 21, in a discussion organized by a local think-tank, Ambassador Mozena clarified the nature of this strategic partnership. He stressed that it was not intended to contain China. Then what is its very purpose?- the question eventually comes to ones mind. In this context, if one raises eye brows on American desire to see Bangladesh playing a bigger role in the Bay of Bengal, we could not blame him much.Analyst Dr. Subhash Kapila correctly questions U.S.s intention in this part of the world:

However, what is definitely intriguing is the American emphasis on Bangladeshs role in the maritime security of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. One would have thought that the United States under its Strategic Partnership understandings with

India would have acceded that role to India as the dominant naval power in the region. What maritime role for Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal is the United States envisaging?
Should Bangladesh trust a USA with double visage? Much of Bangladeshs chagrins and maladies are due to past American actions. America is a country that Bangladesh cannot trust, but can work with on some issues that have common interest! At best, U.S. could be a working partner. But Bangladesh should not sign a defense cooperation agreement with US as it has dj vu repercussions! Just go through the pages of Pakistans history you will see such treaty neither gives a secure Pakistan nor ensures internal stability. So, do not dig in troubles! Yes, Bangladesh has to send combat troops to Afghanistan. Yes, Bangladeshi political parties have to start a dialogue on the framework of a neutral interim government to hold a free and fair election. Yes, Bangladesh has to end corruption. Yes, Bangladesh has to ensure workers right. Yes, Bangladesh has to improve its relationship with India. Bangladesh has to do these things for its own sake. Not to comply with American demands! To America, security interest gets utmost priority when it faces a set of different choices. Any slight deviation from that is unthinkable! To safeguard that interest, it even compromises with democracy and human rights. So America should be judged by what it does, not by what it says.

Image Courtesy: http://www.sambith.com/india/pictures/truck_art_eg.jpg As I was wondering how I could wrap up this write-up, I came across this truck image on the internet. Keep Distance -the message on that trucks back is the best piece of advice for Bangladesh in its dealing with US Strategic Partnership proposal.

No Ticfa, no market access: Mozena

Sat, Jul 28th, 2012 4:20 pm BdST Dhaka, Jul 28 (bdnews24.com) US ambassador in Dhaka has once again made it clear that Bangladesh would not get duty-free access of its products to the market of United States unless Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) was signed. Dan Mozena termed Ticfa negotiation an 'inexplicably irritant' issue. "What's wrong with it?" he asked and said, "I see nothing wrong [in Ticfa]." However, he told Bangladesh's business leaders on Saturday that the issue would be resolved through 'political process'. After four years of negotiation, the ambassador said, it did not move forward giving a perception to Washington that Dhaka was 'walking back from its international labour obligations.'

"My advice to you is to make environment favourable to Washington," Mozena said, "Bangladesh needs to deliver a powerful message that it does support labour rights." Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes, however, recently told bdnews24.com that Ticfa was not signed as Washington was not willing to negotiate the issue any further. "There are some textual matters where the US side informed us that there is no scope for further negotiations," he said. The US ambassador on Jun 6 at a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters' Association said the duty-free access was 'a kind of issue that will be raised in the forum to be created after Ticfa is signed.' The US envoy on Saturday was speaking at a discussion meeting styled 'Bangladesh-USA bilateral trade: the way forward' at the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). DCCI president Asif Ibrahim in his presentation sought US ambassador's support to get duty-free access of Bangladeshi products including apparel under the GSP programme. Citing Bangladesh's 'enormous' resources and opportunities, the ambassador asked business leaders not to argue that Bangladesh was poor. 'It's a rich country because of its natural resources and its people'. "Pursuing ambassadors would not solve the GSP or other business issues." Mozena said the AFLCIO petitioned to abolish GSP for Bangladesh as the country did not 'uphold labour rights' after the murder of a labour activist Aminul Islam who was associated with the AFL-CIO affiliate, USG-supported Solidarity Center in Dhaka. Washington has been pushing Dhaka to resolve the murder case saying it sent a 'wrong signal' to the US market. The DCCI president said the current negotiation of TICFA should be conducted in such a way so that both the countries were equally benefited. "It (Ticfa) should provide a forum to look into each other's trade issues in a win-win situation." He, however, suggested discussing Ticfa with the private sector in order to make it more 'transparent and business friendly'. "We feel that we don't know much about it (TICFA). We are in the dark," he said. Bangladesh currently pays on average 15.3 percent tariff for garment products to enter the US market whereas China, world's largest apparel supplier, pays 3 percent duty in the same market. Bangladesh's garment is now enjoying duty-free facility to the EU, Canada, Japan and even China, and partially to India. The total trade volume between the Bangladesh and US is around $6billion, according to latest available official statistics. Bangladesh has long been pursuing the case of duty-free access of its products particularly apparels to the US market, the single largest export destination of the South Asian country. Officials said most of the Bangladeshi goods have duty-free access to the US market, but the list does not include garment, the country's main exportable item. Foreign investments Dan Mozena on Saturday also said Bangladesh's political situation and bureaucracy stood in the way of foreign investment, despite its potentials to draw investors. Citing his personal experiences during his previous assignments in Bangladesh 12-year back, the ambassador said an American investor wanted to invest in building new terminals in Chittagong. "But it didn't happen as a local politician said 'no'." The US envoy said it was 'very hard' to invest here because of politics, enormous bureaucracy and corruption. "Investors hate (political) instability, uncertainty."

He said there was no problem in Bangladesh that could not be solved. "All can be resolved." "Bangladesh is an exceptional country because its people are amazing." "What they need is leadership, education and infrastructure," Mozena said inspiring business leaders to picture Bangladesh as the 7th largest economy in 2030 as it is the 7th largest country in terms of population.

BD won't sign Ticfa unless difference of opinions with US removed

FE Report Dhaka would not sign Trade and InvestmentCooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) with the US if the latter does not address the difference of opinions Bangladesh has already raised, Foreign Secretary Mohammed Mijarul Quayes said on Saturday. "If there are any differences of opinion, we won't sign the Ticfa. Bangladesh wants to enter into the agreement once our legitimate concerns are addressed," Mijarul Quayes told reporters after inaugurating a fair of Foreign Service Club Families at the State Guest House Padma on Saturday. "We have some differences of opinion and informed about it to the US. We are hopeful of resuming the talks as Washington has agreed to return to the negotiating table," he added. Bangladesh foreign secretary Mohammed Mijarul Quayes will lead a delegation to a meeting under the US-Bangladesh Partnership Agreement to be held in Washington from September 19 to 20. The Ticfa issue will be discussed at the meeting, among other bilateral and regional issues, foreign ministry sources said. Bangladesh is hopeful of signing Ticfa after resolving all the differences, Mijarul Quayes told reporters. Bangladesh and the US have been negotiating on the Ticfa for four years but they are yet to hammer out a deal due to dispute over certain issues. Acting US Secretary of State William J Burns and Assistant US TradeRepresentative Michael Dilaney in their meetings with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on Wednesday expressed their desire to resume talks on Ticfa with Bangladesh. Hillary Clinton during bilateral official talks with her Bangladesh counterpart in May vowed not to compromise on labour issue. Officials in the foreign ministry said the US insisted on the inclusion of phrases like freedom of association of workers and their right to engage in collective bargaining in the draft deal. Earlier, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Office sought to include words like "freedom of association of workers, effective recognition of workers' right to engage in collective bargaining, elimination of child labour as well as discrimination in respect of employment and occupation" in the Ticfa deal. On the contrary, Dhaka has been pressing Washington to replace words such as "to protect the fundamental labour rights, adherence to ILO (International Labour Organisation) conventions and internationally recognised practices on labour issues", instead of freedom of association of workers and their right to engage in collective bargaining.

'US ready to return to Ticfa talks'

Thu, Sep 6th, 2012 10:54 am BdST Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Dhaka, Sept 6 (bdnews24.com) Washington has agreed to return to the negotiating table to discuss the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) with Dhaka to have an effective future trade framework between the two countries, Bangladesh Ambassador to US Akramul Qader has said. Michael Delaney, Assistant US Trade Representative (USTR) and the US negotiator on Ticfa, made the remark in his meeting with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Qader said. The minister met the Assistant USTR at Washington on Wednesday. "We asked for further negotiation and Delaney said they would discuss the issue with Bangladesh," he said. Dhaka and Washington have been negotiating the issue for four years but are yet to hammer out an agreement. Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes at a press conference in July said Bangladesh was not responsible for the stalemate in the negotiation, as the US was not interested to negotiate on Ticfa anymore. An apparently frustrated secretary said: "You just can't come up with a document and say you have to sign it as there is no scope for negotiation." The US talked about labour rights, though it imposed 16 to 32 percent duty on most of the Bangladeshi exportable products including readymade garment, he said. Once signed, officials say, Ticfa would serve as a platform for resolving economic disputes and discussing future trade and business issues. Ambassador Qader said Delaney was expected to visit Dhaka to discuss entire gamut of trade and investment issues with Bangladesh. "The minister also discussed duty- and quota-free market access and continuation of GSP facility for Bangladeshi products," he said. "She told him that the government is quite aware of labour situation in the readymade garment sector where most of the workers are women," he added. Future framework The minister and US State Department Deputy Secretary (currently Acting Secretary) William J Burns discussed the future framework of Bangladesh-US relationship. "Bangladesh and the US are long-time partners and Washington wants to have unfettered cooperation from Dhaka," he said. Both countries were going to have first formal secretary-level talks on Sept 19-20 where the future framework would be discussed, he added. When asked what would be the framework, Qader said: "They are working on it." In the first secretary-level meeting, held under the Partnership Dialogue Agreement, Foreign Secretary Quayes would lead the Bangladesh side, while the US team leader would be Under Secretary for Political Affairs in the State

Department Wendy Sherman. Bangladesh and the US signed the Dialogue deal during the visit of US Secretary of State on May 5 and it stipulates that the countries would have annual consultations under the dialogue to review and give strategic direction to the bilateral ties. Grameen Bank The Foreign Minister also informed the Deputy Secretary that the government would not take any action detrimental to the integrity of the Grameen Bank. "She said the bank is doing very well for the last two years," Qader said. Hillary Clinton in the second week of August sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing her concern over the recent amendment of the Grameen Bank Ordinance. Dipu Moni on Sunday told journalists that the concern of the international community over the bank was baseless and the government would engage with them wherever and whenever possible to allay their fears. Meanwhile, a US embassy media note said Dipu Moni and Deputy Secretary Burns discussed opportunities for expanding bilateral trade. The secretary also noted US concerns about maintaining the effectiveness and integrity of the Grameen Bank, the critical role of a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions to Bangladesh's social and economic development.