Wendy R Sherman, US under secretary for political affairs, has emphasised the need to end election-year violence to bring true prosperity to Bangladesh. “Bangladesh must free itself from this longstanding cycle of election-year violence to truly prosper”, she said in her speech on “A Partnership without Boundaries: US-Bangladesh Relations”, organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel on Monday. The US under secretary also urged international investors not to turn their back on Bangladesh in the wake of tragedies at factories, saying: “The solution is reform, not withdrawal”.
Giving an account of Bangladesh’s successes in different sectors, she said: “This impressive progress is to be applauded. But as a steadfast friend of your country, I must be frank and say that the ultimate success of the Bangladesh story is not guaranteed.”
Sherman said: “My colleagues and I, along with a great many Bangladeshis, have watched with dismay as the streets of Dhaka were shut down by hartal after hartal, by angry demonstration after angry demonstration. I cannot presume to tell the people of Bangladesh or your leaders what issues demand attention, what wrongs must be righted, or what approach your country must take as it faces the grave challenges of the future. In Bangladesh, as in any democracy, this is for the people alone to decide”, she added.
“But speaking as a friend of Bangladesh, I worry about the cycle of violence that shuts down a city of millions on what seems like a daily basis, that dramatically slows Bangladesh’s economic growth, that feeds a political culture that rejects compromise, that breeds fear in minority populations, that brands some citizens and their beliefs less worthy than others, and that radicalises segments of the population”, she observed
Mentioning the Savar and Tazreen tragedies, the US official said: “We need to do all that we can to make sure this doesn’t happen again. We are working together with the government of Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi and American private sectors, labour and civil society groups, our partners in the international community and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora”.
“We are encouraging international investors not to turn their back on Bangladesh, because the solution is reform, not withdrawal”, she added.
Ultimately, Sherman said, success would depend on the will and commitment of the industry, government, civil society and common Bangladeshis to come together to change the culture of workplace safety and worker rights in Bangladesh.
She, however, said that the responsibility for enforcing robust labour standards rested with the government.
“But as your country faces these challenges, its friends stand ready to help. For instance, we are working with American companies that source garments from factories in Bangladesh to secure their support for enhanced safety inspections”, she added.
Sherman said: “We hope that out of grief and the debris of Rana Plaza, out of the ashes and pain of the Tazreen Fashions and Smart factory fires before it, you will be able to chart a new way forward. We hope that you will be able to build a national consensus on how to improve the lives of workers – indeed the lives of all citizens – in Bangladesh.”
She said reforms are important for workers as well as the industry. “They are also critical to restoring Bangladesh’s image in the eyes of the international community. The success of the Bangladesh story has implications not just for Bangladeshis, but for the entire global community”, she added.
Appreciating Bangladesh’s counter-terrorism efforts, Sherman said: “We have worked hard to disrupt terrorist networks and combat the threat of violent extremism, both in Bangladesh and beyond. We also applaud Bangladesh’s cooperation with India to combat terrorism in both countries, which is helping to keep the entire region, and the world, safer and more secure.”
She described the struggle against violent extremism as a long one. “This is inspired by ordinary Bangladeshis who declare they are proud Muslims, proud Bengalees, and proud citizens of an open and pluralistic democracy,” she said.
The US official was full of praise for BRAC and Grameen Bank, saying that they have served as world models in the fight against poverty and suffering.
About Grameen Bank, she said the US wants Grameen’s independence and effectiveness to continue, so the rights and interests of its women shareholders could be safeguarded.
On the Grameen Bank founder, she said: “We were so pleased to see last month Bangladesh’s native son honoured in the Capitol rotunda by our political leaders in both parties. Prof. Mohammad Yunus became the first Muslim of any nationality to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award our Congress can bestow.”
Concluding her speech, Sherman said: “I hope I have conveyed to you how much we value our partnership and friendship with Bangladesh, and the pivotal stake we have in your country’s success. There are obstacles along the road, but if the past is any indicator, I am certain Bangladeshis will be able to make the hard choices necessary to not only meet any challenge, but to prosper. We are here to support you. We are working to support civil discourse and political bridge-building. We are engaging US businesses to make sure we are doing all we can to promote safe working conditions in Bangladesh.”
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and US Ambassador Dan W Mozena also spoke on the occasion, while BIISS chairman Munshi Faiz Ahmed presided over the programme.
Meanwhile, the second Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue concluded in the capital on Monday, reaffirming commitment to further broaden the ties between the two countries.
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy R Sherman co-chaired the dialogue.
They highlighted the robust and already growing bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the United States and also the relationship based on shared values and common goals of the two countries and their people, said a joint statement issued upon completion of the dialogue.
The co-chairs and their delegations discussed a wide range of topics, including democracy and governance, trade and investment, security cooperation, and regional integration.
During the dialogue, the US under secretary announced creation of a $2 million program, as part of President Obama’s Global Health initiative, to improve the management of deadly tuberculosis disease through the private health sector in Bangladesh, according to a fact sheet provided by the US Embassy in Dhaka.
Funded through USAID, this program will improve the detection and treatment of tuberculosis in private sector hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
Sherman also announced the creation of a new five-year $8 million program, as part of President Obama’s Global Climate Change initiative, to the World Bank to expand the use of solar energy in Bangladesh. Under this Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy II program, USAID is contributing to the installation of solar home systems, power grids, and irrigation pumps.
During the dialogue, Foreign Secretary Shahidul and Under Secretary Sherman announced that Washington and Dhaka are close to finalizing an accord on extention of 2003 Agreement on Scientific and Technological (S&T) Cooperation for another decade, building upon the robust level of S&T collaboration between the two countries under the existing agreement.
Meanwhile, at a joint press conference with Shahidul at the state guest house Meghna, Sherman said that US looked forward to inclusive, free, fair and credible elections in Bangladesh.
Asked about the basis of her optimism about free, fair and inclusive elections, she said, “My optimism based on what Bangladesh has done since independence. Every turn of wheel Bangladesh has
chosen democracy and has chosen to make progress towards a stronger and better democracy.”
During her stay in Dhaka, Sherman also met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni.
She also participated in a roundtable discussion with government, labor, owners and buyers on labor issues in the garment sector.
Wendy Sherman left Dhaka on Monday night.
-With The Independent input
