Bangladesh opposition parties hire lobbyist to influence Biden and Harris

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Immediately after the US presidential election in November last year, several activists and members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have aggressively active in misleading the next administration in Washington DC as well as key figures in the Capitol Hill, with the agenda of particularly using Joe Biden and Kamala Harris against the ruling Awami League.

It may be mentioned here that in 2018, BNP hired two lobbyist firms – Blue Star Strategies and Rasky Partners in exchange for monthly lobbyist fees of US$ 25,000 and 20,000 respectively to influence Trump administration against Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government.

BM Abdus Sattar, personal assistant of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had signed both the agreements on behalf of the party, being instructed by BNP’s junior boss Tarique Rahman.

Both the agreements were terminated immediately after November election results went in favor of Joe Biden.

According to Capitol Hill sources, BNP has hired two new lobbyist firms to “engage in message development and narrative; outreach to elected and appointed US Executive Branch officials; outreach to US Senate and US Congress; international financial, health, labor, human rights, women’s empowerment and election monitoring organizations; public policy institutions in the US; former US officials and ambassadors; the private sector and diaspora community.

While BNP is working on establishing direct link with Hunter Biden and Kamala Harris, Jamaat-e-Islami is working on establishing links with at least three influential members of the US Congress, one of whom is from the New York City.

At the instruction of Tarique Rahman, two wealthy businessmen from Britain and Canada are now in the US and trying to establish connections with several Democratic Party members in the Senate and Congress, while they also are being in contact with Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton.

One of the two businessmen is also trying to establish connection with Kamala Harris with the help of an Indian businessman.

It may be mentioned here that, in the Joe Biden administration, most of the day-to-day activities of the president will actually be run by Kamala Harris, as Biden has too many health issues. Moreover, there is strong anticipation of Joe Biden’s inability of completing his 4-year term, where Harris would become the next president without a fresh election.

Commenting on the suddenly increased activities of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, a highly placed source in Washington said, a Nobel laureate has been briefing number of top figures in the Democratic Party with the active help of Hillary Clinton. He, along with few more anti-government individuals from Bangladesh have become increasingly active ever-since the November election was over.

It is also learned, BNP, Jamaat and anti-Awami League elements are sending dossiers with anti-Awami League information to Democratic Party policymakers and several members of the US Senate and Congress.

Both Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami though are heavily inclined towards radical Islam, it is anticipated that pro-Islamist forces inside the Democratic Party may play the role of collaborators of the Bangladesh opposition parties.

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