US to intensify talks with India on Bangladesh

The US President Barack Obama has instructed his officials to “ramp up consultations” with India on the political crisis in Bangladesh, the Indian state news agency, PTI reports.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 Nov 2013, 08:41 AM
Updated : 9 Nov 2013, 01:32 PM

His directives came as he took seriously Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ‘concerns’, raised during the two leaders recent meeting in the White House.

According to the report, the US officials had earlier told New Delhi that they are “more comfortable” with Khaleda Zia-led opposition BNP.

But such a direction from Obama came after Singh personally raised concerns on the current political crisis in Bangladesh, “in particular violence and growing radicalisation in the country, which he argued, poses threat to India and the region”.

Quoting sources PTI said that Obama took Singh's concerns seriously and asked for increased discussions with India.

The issue was also discussed separately in detail by National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and his American counterpart Susan Rice, it further reported quoting sources.

It said US envoy to Dhaka, Dan Mozena’s recent New Delhi visit for consultations with top officials of the Ministry of External Affairs was part of these “ramped up” consultations.

Barack Obama & Monmohon Singh

“I have seen the press reports. It is for the Indians to define what their position is. From the US perspective I do not think there is any difference of opinion between the US and India,” PTI reported quoting an unnamed US official.
During its recent meetings, the US has conveyed to India that it is interested in ensuring “free, fair and credible” elections and not bothered about the results of the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh”.
“With respect to our support to democracy, the democratic processes, the US is not invested in an outcome in Bangladesh. But we are invested in a political process that leads to free, fair and credible elections and that's our efforts are oriented towards and that's our engagement with both political parties has been about and that's what we have conveyed to our counterparts in the government of India as well,” the US officials told PTI.
“I would think that would be consistent with the position that the government of India would take,” the official said in response to a question on the differences between India and US on the issue of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s major two parties –ruling Awami League and opposition BNP –are still at loggerheads over the nature of the polls time government, despite the fact that the elections have to be held by Jan 24.

The ruling party wants an all-party interim government while opposition demands the earlier form of caretaker regime, which was scrapped through a constitutional amendment, to oversee the polls.

This impasse allows diplomats in Dhaka to discuss Bangladesh’s own political issues with the leaders of both parties.