Dhaka: The United States will investigate how it ‘can advocate for a democratic regime in Bangladesh’ terming the country ‘is in a state of chaos’.

In a hearing on Bangladesh titled ‘Bangladesh’s Fracture: Political and Religious Extremism’ arranged by the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, chairman of the subcommittee Matt Salmon said, ‘Though the country has long been divided along political lines, the most recent parliamentary elections in 2014 have led to violent protests with the senseless deaths of numerous innocents on both sides of the political line. If this weren’t concerning enough, there have also been repeated reports of radical Islamist violence in the country’.

‘Through this hearing, we will better understand the convoluted political situation in Bangladesh and investigate how the United States can advocate for a democratic regime in Bangladesh that is stable and intolerant of violent Islamic extremism’, he added.

Senior research fellow of the Heritage Foundation Lisa Curtis, Professor of Department of Politics and Government at the Illinois State University Ali Riaz, director of the Hindu American Foundation Jay Kansara, US-Bangladesh Trade and Relations president Association Steven D. Fleischli, and senior fellow for India, Pakistan Alyssa Ayres, and South Asia of Council on Foreign Relations testified before the hearing.

‘The US had previously held up Bangladesh as a model of a large Muslim country with a functioning democracy’, says Lisa Curtis adding ‘But, with the country essentially under one-party rule for the last 16 months, the democratic process is under threat. Furthermore, the violent reaction from the opposition to Sheikh Hasina’s increasingly autocratic approach to governing is putting social and economic progress at risk’.

‘The US must adopt a more assertive role in encouraging Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government and the leading opposition party, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), headed by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, to pursue dialogue to break the political deadlock and restore stability,’ she said.

Ali Riaz said, ‘Anyone familiar with the history of North Africa will be able to testify that absence of inclusive democracy and authoritarianism only paves the way for extremism, violence and prolonged conflict’. 

He also said that Indian policymakers need to take a long term approach instead of being driven by a myopic view about Bangladesh.

‘An unstable Bangladesh will pose more danger to India than any other alternatives,’ he added.

Jay Kansara says, ‘The US should strongly encourage the Government of Bangladesh to declare Bangladesh Jamaat­e­Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir illegal organizations, based on their long­standing involvement in terrorist activities and violence against religious minorities, and impose complete bans on their activities’.

‘Similarly, Jamaat­e­Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive

Order 13224, as their activities threaten American national security and economic interests in Bangladesh and the wider region’ he added.

Steven D. Fleischli says ‘As the CEO of a textile company, I managed two factories within the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (EPZ). My company exported to multiple major US discount department and warehouse stores from 2008 to 2012. Today, I have the opportunity to again invest in factories in the Chittagong EPZ, but because of the instability, after upwards of two years of planning, I will not make that investment at this time’.

 Alyssa Ayres says, ‘Support the requested increase in resources focused on democracy and governance programs in US assistance to Bangladesh—and consider supplementing further’.